THINK+change Podcasts

It can be tough to find the right balance between respecting the rights and needs of people with IDD who commit sex offenses and keeping the community safe. But it is important to support them in a way that leads to growth, reduces risk, and improves their quality of life. Join us for a conversation with Dr. Kyle Lucas, PhD, is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in helping people wi...

Disabilities are not always going to be obvious to others! The decision to share one’s disability is also highly personal and it can be a difficult one as they may face skepticism, disbelief, or stigma from others who cannot understand the extent of their disability or needs.   In this insightful podcast/vodcast episode, we sit down with a remarkable young adult, entrepreneur, and self-advocate, w...

The journey of raising a child with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) may require unwavering support from parent advocates who champion their children’s rights, voices, inclusion, and overall needs. For parents of children, both adults and youth, navigating this advocacy path often becomes a lifelong commitment. In this THINK+change podcast episode, join us as we sit down with Cind...

A bonus episode within the multi-part series about Substance Use Disorders and People with Developmental Disabilities. This episode reviews Systemic Gaps and Policy Solutions with Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet. Treatment gaps for people with co-occurring disorders and disabilities Harm Reduction policy in Colorado Lived experiences and data needed to reduce stigma and improve policy Policy change...

The third epiosde within the multi-part series about Substance Use Disorders and People with Developmental Disabilities. This episode reviews Treatment, Recovery, and the Barriers Featuring Dr. Chad Johnston, MD, Medical Director of Urban Peaks Rehab. The process of treatment and being in recovery; Overview of harm reduction; Communication between disability and addiction service systems; Barriers...

The second epiosde within the multi-part series about Substance Use Disorders and People with Developmental Disabilities. This episode talks about the Prevalence of Substance Abuse among People with IDD Featuring Erika Spraker, LSW, ACA, Program Director of Lifelong Inc. Research around SUD and IDD; Reasons for high prevalence; Prescription medication management; and Signs of SUD to look out for.

The first epiosde within the multi-part series about Substance Use Disorders and People with Developmental Disabilities. This episode offers a Primer on Substance Use Disorders (SUD) Featuring Ann C. Noonan MA, CAS, LPC, from Noonan Consults, LLC Spectrum of Substance Use Disorders; Exposure and prevention; Risk factors for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and Treatment and...

A place to call home, one that is truly safe and reliable, is the foundation of well-being. But, housing instability ripples out into every part of one’s life, from physical and mental health to financial growth. For people with developmental disabilities (DD), living independently can be the first step to a life of dignity and fulfillment. But, unfortunately the barriers to achieving stable housi...

This episode features Elizabeth Lucke, long-term DSP Caregiver • Falling in love with being a DSP; • Duties as a DSP and caregiver; • The best part of being a DSP; • Self-care and preventing burnout; and • Ways to help improve the lives of DSPs. Timestamps: 2:15 – Falling in love with being a DSP 3:30 – Elizabeth’s duties as a DSP 7:40 – The best part of being a DSP 8:45 – The importance of a DSP...

Featuring Pascale Adou from the Department of Healthcare and Financing (HCPF)’s Direct Care Workforce Collaborative • Strategies in addressing the shortage; • Approaches to successful DSP recruitment; and • How to get involved in making change. Timestamps : 2:15 – Refresher on the reasons behind the DSP shortage 6:20 – Strategies to address the shortage 13:00 – Recruiting DSPs right now 15:45 – Ge...

Featuring Josh Rael, Executive Director of Alliance Colorado • The challenges we need to address; • The recent increase in demand for DSPs; • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in the Direct Support Profession; • Addressing low rates of pay; and • Raising the public’s awareness of the DSP shortage. Timestamps 2:58 – The challenges posed by the DSP shortage 6:45 – The increase in deman...

This episode is Featuring Jennifer Ochs, Ms. Wheelchair Colorado 2023 • An overview of Direct Support work; • The role of a DSP for people with developmental disabilities; • How to become a DSP; and • The importance of a quality Direct Support workforce in every community. Timestamps 2:15 – What is a DSP? 8:15 – The work DSPs do for those with Developmental Disabilities 9:55 – Who can be a DSP? 12...

Unmasked: How COVID-19 Impacted People with Developmental Disabilities (DD) was a project that explored the perspectives and experiences surrounding individuals with developmental disabilities and the professionals in their lives during the global pandemic. Through interviews, this project brought together diverse perspectives to shed light on the multi-layered challenges and responses faced by th...

Accessibility. Equity. Opportunity. Rights. Inclusion. In the United States, we work hard to uphold and enact these values and we want our communities to thrive and work for everyone. This is why many choose to make the United States home. Deciding to immigrate to the United States is never an easy choice to make, but many people with disabilities do. In the TALKS mini-documentary series titled, H...

How to Build a Trauma-Informed Organization and Mindset In the final episode of this series, we interviewed, Laura McArthur, PhD, as she shared her perspective about: • The benefits of building a trauma-informed organization and having the mindset • How someone starts to build awareness and buy-in for a trauma-informed approach at their place of work • How someone starts to build awareness and buy...

Why We Need Trauma-Informed Organizations and People In episode 3 of this series, we interviewed, Laura McArthur, PhD, as she shared her perspective about: • Why we need a trauma-informed community • Where trauma-informed framework be implemented • How cultural responsiveness and biases align with our trauma-informed work • The 3 C's of resilience (connection, coping, and competence) • Resources t...

What Does It Mean to Be Trauma-Informed? In episode 2 of this series, we interviewed, Brian Tallant LPC, NADD-CC as he shared his perspective about: • What it means to be trauma-informed? • Shifting the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” • What are the Trauma-Informed Principles? • Aligning people with developmental disabilities and trauma-informed concepts • How we sup...

How Does Trauma Affect the Brain In episode 1 of this series, we interviewed, Brian Tallant LPC, NADD-CC as he shared his perspective about: • What is Trauma? • How does trauma affect the brain? • Can the brain heal from trauma? • What is the Neurosequential Model? • How can we support people with developmental disabilities, children and adults, who have experienced trauma?

“I think we need to make to make the systems work for the people, not for the systems. People are capable of a lot more than we give them credit for, we just have to give them opportunity.” – Damon McLeese, Executive Director of Access Gallery Did you know that people with disabilities experience higher rates of unemployment than those without disabilities? This mini-documentary series features fi...

Is employment an option after high school for youth with developmental disabilities? Yes! Join THINK+change, Serina Gilbert, and Cheryl Carver with the Youth Services Program at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in Colorado as we talk about employment! DVR is in every state, and while programs and services may differ, DVR can assist individuals with disabilities to explore employment optio...

What happens when a youth with an IDD turns 18? Are the parents still guardians? What happens with the youth’s finances and benefits once they become an adult? Yvette Plummer with Show and Tell helps break it down in this episode so you can learn about alternatives to guardianship and what to expect when it comes to financial responsibilities. Learn more about guardianship and alternatives here ....

Let’s talk about Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for when a youth with IDD becomes an adult. Carol Meredith with The Arc Arapahoe, Douglas & Elbert Counties helps break it down in this episode so you can learn about how HCBS can help youth transitioning to adulthood and how they can get support with everyday activities like getting ready for the day, chore services, day program servic...

Is higher education an option after high school for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)? Yes! Join THINK+change and Shayna Laing with Inclusive Higher Education as we review creating pathways to college for students with IDD to foster academic growth, social development, and career advancement in this episode. Timestamps : 2:08 – College Application Timeline 5:38 – Traditi...

Transition planning is a process to help students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) decide what they want to do after high school. Join us for this episode where Gail Lott, EdD with the Colorado Department of Education , reviews common questions about the Transition Plan to help youth, families, and professionals be better prepared! Timestamps: 3:22 – Transition Plan Timeline 4:09 – P...

Quick Tips about Assets & Finances featuring Megan Brand, Executive Director of Colorado Fund for People with Disabilities (CFPD) – Learn about what counts towards asset limits for families and individuals (3:46) – Assets that count towards the limit (5:09) – Assets that don’t count towards the limit (17:01) – Consequences of going over the Asset Limit (9:50) – Differences between SSI, Retirement...