The Arc of Aurora

11/06/2026

What does one hour of Medicaid support make possible in YOUR day?

It might mean you can get ready for work, make it to therapy, or have dinner in your own home, or have the support to do so. It might be the one overlap hour that lets a family caregiver get to work and keep a paycheck. That paycheck helps cover rent and groceries. Maybe it is the service appointment that keeps you and your loved one living well in a community setting?

Removing one hour... THIS is how quickly a cut in one place can affect someone’s life.

The Arc of Aurora is closely following Governor Jared Polis' recently released budget proposals. We’re working with partners and talking with leaders about what these choices could mean for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and Coloradans already stretching every dollar.

Aurora is our focus, but our community cannot succeed unless we ALL succeed! We'll be sharing ideas and concerns directly from the community... because EVERY idea that supports and maintains a person's livelihood and meaningful life is FAR better than any one document. Message or email if you have a great idea that needs to be shared!

Notably:
- People who rely on Medicaid did NOT cause Colorado’s budget problems. Use is NOT waste. Lawmakers need to hear what it takes to get care, find an accessible ride, and keep living in your community before they make decisions that could put those supports out of reach.

- The budget is still a proposal. Now is a good time to speak up. Send a few sentences to the Joint Budget Committee or your state senator and representative. Pick one support you rely on. Tell them what it makes possible and what you would do if it were gone. Ask them to protect it.

We know you have told your story before. It is exhausting. But it is more necessary than ever! Keep it short and share only what you’re comfortable sharing. Your experience belongs in this conversation. We cannot do it without you!

Budget Proposal Here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gUpBVO3zug3CGbHr9AmZPAbfDb3HWgau/view

Find your Colorado legislators here: https://leg.colorado.gov/find-my-legislator

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Economic Analysis and Final Report for the Black Coloradan Racial Equity Study Commission. Read more.

11/06/2026

If you’re approved for LEAP, you may also qualify for help repairing or replacing your furnace and making your home more energy efficient. Visit LEAP's website at cdhs.colorado.gov/leap to apply online or call 1-866-HEAT- HELP (432-8435) to learn more.

11/05/2026

Thank YOU for showing up for Amendment 87... and for showing up for people with disabilities! We just heard word that it passed ... and the disability community needed this win 🎉

The results show that Colorado voters are ready for a fairer tax system. The Arc of Aurora joined more than 100 organizations and thousands of supporters so that voters, not politicians, would make the decision, and we are glad they chose income tax fairness.

We'll be watching to ensure an equitable and impactful distribution of funds, but for now, we celebrate a more fair !!!

11/05/2026

Join our friends at Family Voices Colorado TONIGHT for an important Caregiver Conversation!

⚠️ Don't forget! ⚠️

Thursday 11/5 is another Caregiver Conversations! We will be covering a super important topic -- especially in this current climate. The best thing we can do is equip ourselves with knowledge and resources 💪

Tune in tomorrow at 7pm and register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rrSO-rSeQVaFeN4aNtpUQg #/registration

11/04/2026

Two hours remain! Polls close at 7pm... Plenty of time to drop your ballot or vote in person! Find your local voting station here:

https://www.justvotecolorado.org/vote-locations

10/30/2026

🚨We are a YES on 87🚨 Join us!

📣 From our friends at Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition -- Medicaid is on the Ballot! Without Amendment 87, Medicaid services that keep people alive will be at risk, and healthcare coverage will be reduced. K-12 education, including special education, will face cuts to programs, staffing capabilities, and more. Childcare support, which nearly 50,000 Colorado children rely on each year, will be threatened.

Amendment 87 is the solution we need. By creating a fair tax structure (which would lower taxes for 97% of Coloradans!), we’d raise over $2 billion that would directly go to Medicaid, K-12 education, and childcare.

Help us save Colorado’s future and vote YES on Amendment 87 by 7pm on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd.📣

10/28/2026

Still have your ballot? It’s too late to mail your ballot, but there’s still time to vote!

Return your ballot at any 24/7 dropbox or in-person Voter Service and Polling Center in your county, on or before Election Day, November 3rd at 7pm.

Find your nearest dropbox or polling place: https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections/VIP.html
More voting information and resources: JustVoteColorado.org

10/23/2026

Colorado’s Medicaid office (Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing or HCPF) has announced its second round of proposals to balance the state budget. See the proposals here... nothing is final; your voice and experience MATTER!

📢From the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council📢

What you can do:
* Know what services are in your plan. Contact your home health agency or case manager if you need a copy. Compare your current hours to the proposed limits.
* Think about what you or your loved one need to live safely in the community. How do these services support your or your loved one’s well-being? Are they essential or are other services more important? If you are a family caregiver, how would EVV (including real-time charting) impact your ability to care for your loved one?
* Tell your story. Focus on what matters most to your family and how the changes will affect you.

It is not our community's job to fix the state budget.

It is important that we give feedback to help decision-makers understand the real-world impact of the proposed solutions.

How to Share Feedback: Attend a stakeholder meeting or complete a survey:
1. Meeting Dates and Times
* Tuesday, October 27, 2026
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MT
Register for October 27 here https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_2EZPZ2I9SaOAlGIuTRBIXg

* Wednesday, October 28, 2026
8:30 - 10 a.m. MT
Register for October 28 here https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_Gx8WIhZJSE2JHztdJ-DZ8g

2. You can also provide feedback via the Round 2 Survey, open now through Sunday, November 1, 2026. https://tinyurl.com/bw8f4c44

HCPF previously said it would release the results of the first round of policy recommendations this month. They decided to wait until November to consider Round 1 and Round 2 proposals together instead of separately.

10/22/2026

The Arc of Aurora urges you to vote YES on Amendment 87- the Income Tax Fairness Act- because 97% of Colorado taxpayers would get a tax CUT! Giant corporations and households earning over $500,000 would pay their fair share for our schools, health care, and child care. Together, we can build a fairer Colorado... join us!