About Us

Developmental Disability Network

The Colorado Developmental Disabilities Network was established to provide leadership for implementation of the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. Three organizations are mandated in the act:


These three organizations have a common goal and purpose: “…to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life, through culturally competent programs.”

Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council

The Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council is made up of citizens who care about the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. This body, appointed by the Governor, is made up of 24 people. The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, a federal law, requires that 60% of Council members be people with developmental disabilities or family members of people with developmental disabilities.

DD Council Spring 2010 Newsletter


The Legal Center
The Legal Center is Colorado’s Protection and Advocacy organization. The Legal Center strives to protect the human, civil and legal rights of people with mental and physical disabilities, people with HIV, and older people throughout Colorado. The Legal Center's primary goal is to open up the legal system to those who would otherwise be unable to voice their needs because of the complexity of the service bureaucracy, their disability or because they are unable to act on their own behalf.


JFK Partners, Colorado’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)
The mission of JFK Partners is to promote the independence, inclusion, contribution, health, and well-being of people with developmental disabilities and special health care needs and their families through consumer, community, and university partnerships. At the core of this mission is a commitment to family and person-centered, community-based, and culturally competent programs and services. This mission is accomplished through the pursuit of excellence in education and training, consultation, technical assistance, direct service, research, program development, policy analysis, and advocacy. Located at the University of Colorado at Denver, JFK Partners is an interdepartmental unit within the Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry in the School of Medicine.