A Brief History of Services for People With Developmental Disabilities in

Colorado –

And a Glimpse at the Future

Late 1800s – early 1900sThe Birth of Institutions

1883 - The Colorado Insane Asylum (later named Colorado State Hospital) admits its first patients

1904-05 – Bills are introduced to appropriate money for an institution but fail

1909 - Bill passed to open institution in Wheat Ridge

1910sLegal Segregation

1912 – Colorado State Home for Mental Deficiencies opened with 46 “inmates” in Wheat Ridge

1912 – A law passed preventing marriage for “feebleminded” and allowed segregation in an institution for life, or at least until during reproductive ages

1913 – Statement issued: “Owing to heredity of defectiveness, it is very important to permanently commit the feeble minded to institutions, preventing the increase in this class of person”

1920s – 1930sChildren Institutionalized

1920 – Institution in Grand Junction opened

1933 – Statement issued: “Mental Defective child does not have the same sense of morality or decency as a normal child and cannot be taught these”

1935 – Statement issued: “Mentally Defective Children are a menace to society and normal people should be protected from them”

1940s – 1950sInstitutes Grow

1940 – 700 people at Wheat Ridge and Grand Junction institutions

1950 – Parents of children in institutions legally bound to pay $35 per month for care of child and to furnish clothing

1956 – 1,112 people at Wheat Ridge and Grand Junction institutions

1960sThings Start To Change

1961 – Jefferson County opened its first public school class for children with developmental disabilities

1965 – Grant to move 90 individuals with developmental disabilities into community of Ft. Logan, within three years all 90 were living successfully in the community

BUT . . .

1968 – Survey shows 74% of those living in Colorado institutions have no contact with anyone outside of the institution

1970sMajor Changes

1973 – Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by Federal agencies

1975 – Education for All Handicapped Children Act requires all public schools accepting federal funds to provide equal access to education for children with physical and developmental disabilities (revised and renamed as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1990)

1980s – 1990sMajor Changes Continue

1981 – Ruling that children who were residents of Wheat Ridge institution had rights to free and appropriate education

1990 – Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination based on disability

De-institutionalization

2000sRegression

Dwindling resources

2000sRegression

Regulatory changes squeezing the life out of services

2000sRegression

Increasing demand

2000sTraditional approaches to funding and providing

services no longer work

So What Can We Do?

• Use technology – more efficient, cost effective service delivery

• Universal application – works in multiple environments/across disabilities

• Greater opportunity to serve individuals with more severe disabilities

Technology Use at Imagine!

Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome, Boulder, CO

Charles Family SmartHome, Longmont, CO

What Can A SmartHome Do?

Enhance the quality of life of residents, including:• Developing personal skills

• Enhancing communication

• Regulating environmental conditions

What Can A SmartHome Do?Augment the effectiveness of caregivers, including:• Sensing, storing, and transmitting health information

• Analyzing healthcare and health/safety trends

• Detecting behavioral clues for changes in cognitive or physical conditions

What Can A SmartHome Do?

Provide cost and energy savings, including:

• Managing staff time efficiently

• Using alterative energy sources

• Minimizing energy consumption

Past Projects

Small Things Make a Big Difference

How Can You Help?

Every Individual Solution Has The Potential To Have A Global Impact