ABC Disability Support Group

06/07/2026

While we had an incredibly difficult session that was overshadowed by really hard cuts to Medicaid, we still want to take a moment to lift up the work our team did to pass good policy this session.

CCDC 2026 Legislative Session Success:

✅Passed: HB26-1382 - Protects the community’s control of the CO Disability Funding Committee by moving it to a special purpose authority

✅Signed Into Law: HB26-189 - Regulates algorithmic decision making technology (including AI) to protect consumers and give them the right to pursue anti discrimination claims against the deployer and developer

✅Passed: HB26-1425 - Creates both a professional and facility license for ABA providers (who are currently unlicensed) to protect kids’ health and safety during this treatment

✅Passed: HB 26-1147 - Increases protections and oversight for people with disabilities living in host homes

✅Passed: SB 150 - Increases RTD accountability, including a paratransit study

✅Passed: HB 1043 - Increases penalties for ride sharing companies who discriminate against PwDs

ID: A graphic that is titled "CCDC 2026 Legislative Session Successes" and includes all of the text in this caption. A broad lined drawing of the state Capitol dome is on the right hand side of the image with a green check mark in the upper right hand corner. The CCDC logo is on the bottom right side of the graphic.

06/05/2026

TRINIDAD- We hope YOU will join us! SPREAD THE WORD!

Wednesday, June 10, 2026
5:30pm-7:30pm
The Commons @ Space to Create
218 W. Main St. Trinidad, CO 81082

Registration is kindly requested to help us plan for your complimentary DINNER, but all are welcome regardless of registration. You can register HERE: https://ArcCO_CET2026_Trinidad.eventbrite.com

Our annual Community Engagement Tour provides a valuable opportunity to build and grow relationships with stakeholders and key decision-makers and learn more about YOUR unique community. We’re inviting families, disability community stakeholders, elected officials, and leadership in local organizations and agencies.

We hope YOU will join us!
For more information, email us [email protected]

Trinidad Space to Create ABC Disability Support Group Trinidad Carnegie Public Library Trinidad Kids and Youth Connection and Calendar Visit Trinidad Colorado Children's Services SCDDS Healthy Kids Running Series - Trinidad, CO City of Trinidad Colorado TSC Trojans

06/02/2026

HB26-1045 Disab Housing Protections | Colorado General Assembly

Pursuant to the sine die adjournment of the General Assembly on May 13, 2026, any legislation enacted without a safety clause goes into effect on August 12, 2026. Read more.

06/02/2026

You’re Invited

The Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council (CDDC) is holding a virtual Public Comment Session Thursday, June 4th, on the draft goals and objectives for our upcoming 5-year state plan.

The draft goals and objectives are available for review on our website at https://coddc.org/get-involved/.

📆 When: Thursday, June 4, 2026
🕛 Time: 10 am - 11 am
📍Where: Virtual on Zoom
🔗Registration is required and can be done at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QIY3rffRQzKvqSAbw2DZTw?_x_zm_rtaid=HRIopDiQRPqxLxnrJA80qA.1779215159962.16be7ac541d4d2e123bdd51d62e60681&_x_zm_rhtaid=808 #/registration

For accommodation requests, or if you have questions, please email us at [email protected].

Not able to attend the virtual session? You can provide your feedback on the draft goals and objectives using our form https://forms.gle/tCP6WU6XSbdANYuj7

Please help us get the word out and share with your communities.

Resources:
Submit your feedback at https://forms.gle/tCP6WU6XSbdANYuj7
Proposed goals and objectives (https://coddc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Announcement-of-Public-Comment.pdf)
Proposed goals and objectives in plain Englishhttps://coddc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Announcement-of-Public-Comment-PL-2.pdf
Propuesta de Metas y Objetivos en Español : visión generalhttps://coddc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Spanish-Announcement-of-Public-Comment_es.pdf
Propuesta de Metas y Objetivos en Español : lenguaje clarohttps://coddc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Spanish-Announcement-of-Public-Comment-PL_es.pdf

Image description: A flyer for a Public Comment Listening Session hosted by the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council. The virtual event will take place on Thursday, June 4th, at 10 am. There is a QR code to register for the event along with the Council logo and website.

06/02/2026

Las Animas County DHS warns massive state human services overhaul could reduce funds, services in rural counties

A link to the article is in the comments

05/15/2026

ABC Disability Support Group is very proud to recognize our co-founder/chair/advocate, Elizabeth Lyles, in graduating and obtaining her Bachelor's Degree in Nurising. CONGRATULATIONS LIZ!!!🎉🎊🎓

Pictured are boards members (clockwise)): Mark Lyles, Elizabeth Lyles, Ivorye Gutierrez, and Nash Gutierrez

04/13/2026

Mark and Liz Lyles would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the honor of being nominated for the Chenoweth Award. Although we did not win, it was a meaningful experience to be recognized alongside such impactful individuals and initiatives.

Their journey into advocacy was inspired by personal challenges as they sought support for their daughter, who has a rare genetic disorder. Faced with barriers in the school system and limited resources, Mark and Liz took it upon themselves to create the community support they needed, leading to the establishment of ABC Disability Support Group in 2018. This non-profit organization is dedicated to advocating for individuals with disabilities and has tirelessly collaborated with local schools and the City of Trinidad to improve special education resources, enhance accommodations, and raise awareness of the daily challenges faced by this community.

Through years of hard work and collaboration, Mark and Liz have successfully spearheaded numerous initiatives, including the installation of a wheelchair swing at Trinidad’s community center, acquiring all-terrain wheelchairs for state parks, and authoring a proposal that resulted in the renovation of Central Park's ballpark to improve accessibility. Additionally, ABC Disability Support Group organizes inclusive activities and social events, such as the Champions Accessibility Road Race, parent support groups, educational workshops, personalized transportation services, and referral systems to connect families to essential resources.

Mark and Liz are passionate about ensuring that other families do not face the same struggles they encountered. Their tireless efforts have fostered a supportive community dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all abilities. ABC Disability Support Group is proud to be the only non-profit special education advocate south of Pueblo, Colorado, and they continue to expand their impact through partnerships with various local and state-level organizations, including Peak Parent Center, EI Colorado, The Arc of Colorado, Disability Law Colorado, and more. Since the formation of ABC Disability Support Group, Mark and Liz have positively impacted over a hundred families with children and adults with disabilities in the Trinidad area.

Thank you to everyone for their support as we continue to advocate for a better future for people with disabilities in our community. Together, we can create lasting change.

04/09/2026

Introducing Nash Gutierrez our Public Relations Officer and Ivorye Gutierrez board member and chair person of our Accessibility Committe. We are proud to share that they have also been nominated for the prestigious Chenoweth award this year in Trinidad Colorado

2026 Chenoweth Nominees - Ignacio and Ivorye Gutierrez

Ignacio (Nash) Gutierrez and his daughter, Ivorye (I) Gutierrez, are well-known figures in our community. Nash graduated from Trinidad High School in 1974 and subsequently joined the Army, serving as a combat engineer for a year and a half in Germany. During his service, he embarked on an impressive bicycle journey, cycling 1,055 miles on a 10-speed bike. His travels began in Oslo, Norway, where he visited the Viking Museum. He then journeyed through Denmark and northern Germany, exploring Sweden, and crossing the Holland D**e to visit the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank's annex in Amsterdam. His adventure continued to London, where he toured Buckingham Palace and the Imperial War Museum, before heading to Paris to spend two days at the Louvre, where he had the opportunity to see the Mona Lisa.

After completing his active duty, Nash returned home and joined the National Guard, serving for an additional six years as an army medic. He began his career with the C&S Railroad as a brakeman and retired as a locomotive engineer after 36 years of dedicated service. In 1980, he married Josephine Bull, who was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and moved to Trinidad in 1979. Josephine's father, Leonard J. Bull, became a gunsmithing instructor at Trinidad State Junior College.

Nash and Josephine welcomed two children into their lives: a beautiful daughter, Ivorye, and a son, Blayne. Blayne is now 31 and works for the City of Trinidad in the IT department.

Ivorye Lorraine Gutierrez graduated from Hoehne High School in 2002. Now 42 years old, Ivorye was born with cerebral palsy but has never let that stop her from enjoying life to the fullest. She has been an active member of the community, working for Fishers Peak Outfitters for two years. Ivorye contributes her time and talents to several committees, including the DHS Family Support and serves as a board member for the ABC Disability Support Group. In her role as chairperson of the Accessibility Committee at ABC Disability Support Group, she has attended numerous meetings focused on ADA compliance and accessibility within the city. Sadly, Josephine passed away on Mother's Day nearly five years ago.

Currently, Nash serves as a domestic engineer and is actively engaged as a board member with the ABC Disability Support Group, the Family Support Council through the Department of Human Services, and the advisory committee at Alta Vista.

04/06/2026

A few of our own are up for a service/leadership award in Trinidad. The Trinidad Chenoweth Award has been a prestigious award since 1979 this award in Trinidad area has honored citizens whose service to the community has greatly enhanced our quality of life. The award is named after its first recipient, Judge and Congressman J. Edgar Chenoweth. Mr. Chenoweth exemplified leadership and service to the Las Animas County area. Stay tuned to see who is announced a winner on April 11th.

2026 Chenoweth Award Nominees: Mark and Liz Lyles, Founders of ABC Disability Support Group

Mark and Liz Lyles have called Trinidad home for over eleven years. Mark moved to the Valdez area in 1988 with his mother, and he graduated from Primero High School. Liz and Mark met in Denver, where they both pursued careers in nursing. Their connection to Trinidad deepened during visits to Mark’s family, and Liz soon fell in love with the region.

With Mark boasting over 25 years of nursing experience and Liz bringing 16 years in the field, their professional backgrounds lay the foundation for their advocacy work. Additionally, Liz is trained in special education law, serving as a dedicated advocate for families navigating the complexities of educational resources.

Their journey into advocacy was sparked by personal challenges as they sought support for their daughter, who has a rare genetic disorder. Faced with barriers in the school system and limited resources, Mark and Liz took it upon themselves to create the community support they needed, leading to the establishment of the ABC Disability Support Group in 2018. This non-profit organization is committed to advocating for individuals with disabilities and has worked tirelessly with local schools and the City of Trinidad to improve special education resources, enhance accommodations for individuals with disabilities, and raise awareness of the daily challenges faced by this community.

Through years of hard work and collaboration, Mark and Liz have successfully spearheaded numerous initiatives, including the installation of a wheelchair swing at Trinidad’s community center and the acquisition of all-terrain wheelchairs for state parks. Liz also authored a proposal that resulted in the renovation of Central Park's ballpark to improve accessibility.

In addition to these substantial enhancements, ABC Disability Support Group organizes all-inclusive activities and social events, such as the Champions Accessibility Road Race, as well as parent support groups, educational workshops, personalized transportation services, and referral systems to connect families to essential resources.

Mark and Liz are passionate about ensuring that other families do not face the same struggles they encountered. Their tireless efforts have fostered a supportive community dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all abilities. ABC Disability Support Group is proud to be the only non-profit special education advocate south of Pueblo, Colorado.

As they continue to expand their impact, they have developed partnerships with various local and state-level organizations including Peak Parent Center, EI Colorado, Family Support, HuLA, The Arc of Colorado, Disability Law Colorado, the State of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Extreme Motus, Special Olympics, and Pulseline Collaborative. Their efforts have been recognized statewide, particularly as a resource for Developmental Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Colorado. More recently, they have engaged with additional organizations such as Spark the Change Colorado, Trinidad State College, and Best Buddies.

Since the formation of ABC Disability Support Group, Mark and Liz have positively impacted over a hundred families with children and adults with disabilities in the Trinidad area.