A Brief History of Services for People With Developmental Disabilities in Colorado – And a Glimpse at the Future

Late 1800s – early 1900s The 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

1910s Legal 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 – 1930s Children 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 – 1950s Institutes 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

1960s Things 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

1970s Major 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 – 1990s Major 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

2000s Regression Dwindling resources

2000s Regression Regulatory changes squeezing the life out of services

2000s Regression Increasing demand

2000s Traditional 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

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

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

A Brief History of Services for People With Developmental Disabilities in Colorado – And a Glimpse at the Future

by Fred Hobbs on Sep 19, 2011

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