Disability Justice

10/14/2026

Disability Justice was proud to participate in PEAK Parent Center's Conference on Inclusive Education in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Co-Legal Director Emily Harvey and Intake & Self-Advocacy Attorney Alaina Dye presented 2 breakout sessions, one to help attendees better understand federal and state-level protections for students with disabilities and the other other about rights when transitioning from high school to higher ed!

The event also provided an opportunity to connect with Michele Williers, CEO of PEAK Parent Center, and other individuals committed to advancing inclusive education across Colorado.

We extend our appreciation to PEAK Parent Center for organizing this conference and creating opportunities for families, educators, and disability rights advocates to learn from one another.

Meaningful inclusion requires more than simply being present in the classroom. It requires equal access, participation, and opportunity for every student.

10/12/2026

💙 Connecting with Our Pueblo Community!

On October 2, our Court Access Navigator, Sara Ortiz, and Disability Rights Attorney, Alaina Dye, joined the annual Celebration of Self-Reliance, hosted by the Center Toward Self-Reliance in Pueblo!

The event brought together people with disabilities and local organizations for a day of connection, resources, and celebration. 🤝

Sara and Alaina enjoyed meeting community members, sharing information about our services, and introducing our new Court Access Navigator (CAN) program in Pueblo.

A big thank you to the Center Toward Self-Reliance for hosting such a wonderful event! We're grateful to Sara and Alaina for representing our team and look forward to returning next year. 💙

10/07/2026

Happy National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

NDEAM is a time to celebrate the leadership, talent, and contributions of workers with disabilities. It is also a reminder that employers have a responsibility to create accessible, inclusive workplaces where people with disabilities can fully participate and thrive.

Disability inclusion benefits everyone. Workplaces are stronger when they value accessibility, reasonable accommodations, and the lived experience of disabled employees.

10/01/2026

Every eligible voter deserves to cast their ballot safely, accessibly, and without intimidation.

Colorado Newsline recently highlighted the work of the Election Protection Coalition, which includes Disability Justice and other voting rights partners, as the coalition prepares to expand nonpartisan poll monitoring during the midterm election.

This work helps ensure voters have support at polling places, barriers are identified, and communities know their rights.

Read the full article here:
https://coloradonewsline.com/2026/09/29/colorado-more-poll-monitors/

09/30/2026

We’re hiring a Client Assistance Program (CAP) Advocate!

The CAP Advocate provides advocacy for clients who have complaints about services they have or have not received from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Centers for Independent Living.

This role helps clients understand their rights and options, reviews case information, supports dispute resolution, and helps ensure people with disabilities can access the services and supports they need.

This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Denver, Colorado.

Learn more through BambooHR here:
https://disabilitylawco.bamboohr.com/careers/35

09/24/2026

As disappointing as this ruling is, it’s important to remember that Section 504, the ADA, and the protections established under Olmstead remain in place. Our rights are still here, and so is our community. We’re not going anywhere—and we’ll keep moving forward together.

09/22/2026

Ian Watlington was a monument of advocacy in the City of Denver, the state, and the nation. He will be deeply missed.

Gentle Memories of Ian Watlington

The disability community lost a fierce advocate and leader on September 12, 2026. It has been some 16 years since Ian worked as an advocate with ADVOCACYDENVER, but his legend lives on. We sometimes run into clients who remember about how Ian helped them find their voice, modeled how to navigate education, the workforce and community - how to realize equal access. Ian had an ability to blend fierce advocacy with warm humor and was a frequent keynote speaker at different education conferences. He would talk about his mom, her advocacy and his journey as a child and teenager with a disability. Audiences would laugh with him as he reminisced about his persistence to hang out with his friends on the hill behind the school as the first move to demand disability justice. Gentle memories of our colleague, friend, advocate, teacher, and leader, who taught us that true inclusion is about belonging in every part of life.

09/14/2026

09/10/2026

Our very own Disability Rights Attorney Morgan Hecht Domínguez sat down with her client, Empress, whom she helped secure a reasonable modification at her apartment complex.

In this conversation, they discuss what the reasonable modification process was like, the barriers the client faced, and how Disability Justice was able to support her in advocating for equal access to her housing.

This story highlights why reasonable accommodations and modifications matter; and how disability rights advocacy can help people with disabilities live safely, independently, and with dignity in their communities.

Empress also wanted us to share the following: "A voice can become an echo for those who catch its breeze in the wind."

Learn more about Disability Justice: https://disabilityjustice.co

See more from Empress on her podcast, Letz TalkQ, and her socials by the same name on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

09/06/2026

Our offices will be closed Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing long weekend! We look forward to serving you when we reopen Tuesday, September 8.