We do not speak for our clients; we just make sure that they are heard by the people who can make the changes our clients need. Our Advocates have a strong working knowledge of the administrative environment at any given time, and are adept at cutting through the “red-tape.” Here are examples of issues which have required our assistance:

Financial: financial exploitation, conservator too restrictive, and estate management.(17%)

Housing & Services: physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, medical neglect, being physically trapped by failure to repair a wheelchair, homelessness, institutional change such as wanting out of a nursing home; is leaving psychiatric facility, jail, or regional center. (44%)

Law Enforcement: coerced confession, incompetent to proceed to trial, gang exploitation, sex offender registry, charges stemming from medically caused psychotic episode. (11%)

Parenting: child custody, parenting education (6%)

Transition to Adult Services: Ageing out of foster care (4%)

Transportation: Access-A-Ride negotiations to build transportation into supported living services; negotiate with supported living services for transit.(9%)

Vocational: workplace accommodations, workplace supports, business planning. (9%)

These specific examples are from a study of random clients. We found that forty percent (40%) of adult clients require multiple types of advocacy which may be overlapping and causally intertwined. Fifty-one percent (51%) of our adult clients have needs so dire that they require medical advocacy.

After we have provided initial assistance, we also follow up with the clients’ Individual Plan (IP) meetings. IP’s are created by everyone concerned with the well-being of the focus person along with service providers such as community centered boards. We assist the focus person in voicing their desires and concerns. Because such plans set responsibilities for health, housing, safety and quality of life issues, they are a powerful measure to prevent hardship. Our constituents often gain greater control of their lives and learn to self-advocate.

Clients do not have to be receiving services from the developmental disability system to get help from the Arc of Denver. We also advocate for people who are on the waiting list, or choose to remain outside of the system. We provide advocacy regardless of whether or not an IP has been created.