
March 29, 2023
This page is for luncheon invitees only
View the PUBLIC Awareness Day page here

In-Person Schedule of Events
Capitol Security Protocol & Entrance Info
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7:45am: Coffee and Light Refreshments (Outside the Old Supreme Court Chamber (2nd floor, North side))
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8:00 - 8:30am In-Person IDD Policy Overview (Old Supreme Court Chamber (2nd floor, North side))
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9:00am: Pledge of Allegiance and IDD Awareness Day Tributes
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House Gallery (3rd floor, West side)
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Pledge of Allegiance by Anne from Jefferson County
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IDD Awareness Day House Tribute Sponsored by: Representatives Mary Young & Ryan Armagost
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Senate Gallery (3rd floor, South side)
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Pledge of Allegiance by Lonnie from Summit County
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IDD Awareness Day Senate Tribute Sponsored by: Senators Rachel Zenzinger & Rod Pelton
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After Tribute: Choose Your Own Advocacy Adventure
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Continue to watch the House or Senate from the Galleries
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Visit with your legislator or their staff in their office (make appointments in advance)
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Watch a House or Senate Committee Hearing or a Joint Budget Committee Hearing. View Session Schedule.
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Take a tour of the Capitol. Public tours are offered hourly 10:00am-3:00pm. Self-guided tour materials are available at the tour desk on the first floor.
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Participate in our Photo Scavenger Hunt
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Join the conversation on social media using #COIDD
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11:15am: Luncheon Check-In (PRE-REGISTERED ATTENDEES ONLY) (Denver Art Museum, ROOM: Sturm South Pavilion, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204 - Enter through the Sie Welcome Center at the Larry & Sharon Martin Building just north of 13th Ave, and south of 14th Ave)
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If possible, escort your legislators from the Capitol to the Denver Art Museum.
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Walking directions from the Colorado Capitol to the Denver Art Museum:
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For an interactive map showing the walk (approx. 6 minutes) from the Capitol to the Denver Art Museum using your mobile device, CLICK HERE.
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Luncheon speakers will begin at 12:00pm - see speaker line-up below.
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The Transportation Van is intended for wheelchair or walker users (+1 attendant) only. Thank you to Continuum of Colorado for the use of your van!
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The van can only accommodate TWO wheelchairs at a time and ONLY TWO additional passenger seats are available (one front passenger seat, one jumper seat in the back).
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The van will provide one-way service from the South Capitol Entrance to the Denver Art Museum between 11:00am - 12:15pm if REQUESTED.
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Pick up: 14th Ave at Sherman St., south side of the Capitol
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Drop off: South door of Denver Art Museum on north side of 13th Ave.
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All registered luncheon attendees will also have access to exhibits at the Denver Art Museum! Admission stickers will be provided starting at 11:15am
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Meet the 2023 Pledge of Allegiance Leaders
Anne
Pledge in the House Chambers
Anne lives in Jefferson County and loves performing but hasn't had opportunities because she is often overshadowed by people who are more assertive than she is. She has lots of cool gifts and talents: she plays the piano, crochets, enjoys writing, art and she loves to dance and generally have a good time. Anne has down syndrome.
Meet the 2023 IDD Awareness Day Luncheon Speakers
Representative Mary Young
2022 Alliance Legislator of the Year
Rep Mary Young in the State Representative of House District 50. As a life-long public servant, she spent her career as an educator working in public schools, primarily working with students with behavioral health issues, developmental disabilities, and other learning disabilities. She has been passionate about focusing on those issues while in the State House. In addition, Rep Young's steadfast support for Envision, the CCB serving Weld County, has been monumental. She has a thorough understanding of the needs of and services required for people with IDD, and even participates in their annual events, including the H’Art of Envision Art Show, 5K in My Shoes, and Rose Reception.
Deborah Rose
2022 Direct Support Professional of the Year
Deborah Rose is the proud recipient of the “2022 Alliance Direct Support Professional of the Year” award.
Deborah was born in Pueblo CO, where she grew up in the country. She was 10 when she received a camera for her birthday, and that’s when her interest in photography began. Living in the country, she found interest and appreciation in nature and its beauty. She played sports and was a cheerleader at her small high school. She moved away at 18.
She has been blessed with four children and seven grandchildren and seven step-grandchildren. Deborah loves working at North Metro, and she shares her love of photography whenever she can. She enjoys teaching her groups about the joy, calm, and beauty of our universe. She says that the smiles she receives each day are all she needs to make her job worth it!
Carson Covey
ArcCO Board Member
Carson Covey has a board seat on The Arc Arapahoe, Douglas & Elbert Counties. Carson is also privileged enough to sit on the board of the Arc of Colorado. He is in the Leadership Education in the Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Program. This program I based out of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus! He is studying self advocacy. He got into this field because he had friends who were advocates themselves. Carson is trying to keep his friends’ dreams alive as well as support future generations as they try to navigate the extremely complex disability world. Carson is also involved in many programs that help support people that use augmentative and assistive communication devices. He is an ambassador for PRC Saltillo, which is a company that supports those that use speech generating devices.
Seth Weshnak
Arc Thrift Stores’ Ambassador
Seth graduated from Northglenn High School in 2005 and has worked at the ARC Thrift Stores for over 10 years. He started working in the donation area and eventually became a cashier, and now Seth trains new cashiers.
Seth enjoys the ARC Ambassador Program and says his favorite social event is going to the movies and sailing at Cherry Creek Reservoir. Some of his favorite classes at ARC University are Financial Planning and the Social Media Safety classes.
He received the ARC Thrift Stores’ Hero of the Year Award in 2021. The award is given to employees that are dedicated to ARC Thrift Stores’ Mission and go above and beyond. He has also appeared on news stations supporting ARC Thrift Stores and radio shows.
Some of Seth’s hobbies are; going to the movies, watching WWE Wrestling and playing in Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments with his friends.
Megan Bowser
Parent
Megan Bowser is a Mom of four, including two with additional needs. Her 11-year-old son has multiple disabilities including deafblindness, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism, and is who introduced her to the world of advocacy. She now works as a Family Navigator with Family Voices Colorado, assisting families with children with special healthcare needs access the healthcare resources and government systems they need to thrive. Additionally, she is the founder and administrator of the Denver Special Needs Parent Community, an online resource connecting for over 2,500 local parents to peer support. Along with another mom, Kiera Zink, she worked to expand access for children with deafblindness to trained interveners by collaborating with Colorado Department of Education and now working with Family Voices Colorado to develop and implement the Community Intervener Pilot.
Meet the 2023 Direct Support Professionals of the Year Finalists

Adrianna Avalos-Moore
Agency: Stepping Stone Support Center
Time with SSSC: 8 months
Years as a DSP: 3+ years

F. Melonie Davis
Agency: Mosaic
Time with Mosaic: 8 years
Years as a DSP: 8 years

Kathy Frank
Agency: Dungarvin Colorado, LLC
Time with Dungarvin: 4 years
Years as a DSP: 30 years

Allison Grant
Agency: Overture:
Time with Overture: 7 years
Years as a DSP: 10 years

Quintin Grogan
Agency: Continuum of Colorado
Time with Continuum: 9+ years
Years as a DSP: 9+ years
Congratulations to all 2023 DSP of the Year Nominees
Adrianna Contreras
Agency: Envision
Time at Agency: 5 years, 7 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 5 years, 7 months
Andrea Williams
Agency: Mosaic
Time at Agency: 2 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 2 months
Billie Romero
Agency: Community Link
Time at Agency: 24 years
Years of Services as a DSP: 24 years
Blake Beh
Agency: Horizons Specialized Services
Time at Agency: 9 years, 10 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 9 years, 10 months
Christopher Janson
Agency: Integrated Life Choices
Time at Agency: 6 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 6 months
Clayton Bradish-Moody
Agency: Karuna Care Services
Time at Agency: 3 years
Years of Services as a DSP: 4 years
Cortney Allen
Agency: Ariel Clinical Services
Time at Agency: 5 years
Years of Services as a DSP: 5 years
Dave Henderson
Agency: Continuum of Colorado
Time at Agency: 3 years, 10 Months
Years of Services as a DSP: Unknown
Deanne Cordova
Agency: Inspiration Field
Time at Agency: 3+ years
Years of Services as a DSP: Unknown
Destiny Wren
Agency: Integrated Life Choices
Time at Agency: 6 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 6 months
Elizabeth 'Liz' Johnson
Agency: Foothills Gateway Inc.
Time at Agency: 5 years
Years of Services as a DSP: 7 years
Heather Wicks
Agency: Ariel Clinical Services
Time at Agency: 1 yr 10 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 8 years
Janine Baker
Agency: Ariel Clinical Services
Time at Agency: 5 years
Years of Services as a DSP: 20+ years
Jaxson Ramirez
Agency: Integrated Life Choices
Time at Agency: 6 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 2 years
Jeff McNitt
Agency: Dungarvin Colorado LLC
Time at Agency: 28 Years
Years of Services as a DSP: 34 Years
Kaite Dyer-Stieb
Agency: Inclusion on Purpose
Time at Agency: 1 year
Years of Services as a DSP: 8 months
Katherine Stolfi
Agency: Mosaic
Time at Agency: 2 years
Years of Services as a DSP: Unknown
Kelley McNeir
Agency: Parker Personal Care Homes
Time at Agency: 8 years
Years of Services as a DSP: 10+ years
Kevin O'Donnell
Agency: STRiVE
Time at Agency: 1 year, 4 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 1 year, 4 months
Linda Botterill
Agency: Community Link
Time at Agency: 5 years
Years of Services as a DSP: 15 years
Marissa Barela
Agency: AbleLight
Time at Agency: 8 years
Years of Services as a DSP: 10 years
Meredith Eisinger
Agency: Stepping Stone Support Center
Time at Agency: 1 year, 10 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 1 year, 10 months
Nancy Nelson
Agency: Dungarvin
Time at Agency: 5 years
Years of Services as a DSP: 10 years
Pete Galligan
Agency: Wellspring Community
Time at Agency: 5 years, 3 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 5 years
Sabrina Gonzalez
Agency: Karuna Care Services
Time at Agency: 1 year
Years of Services as a DSP: 1 year
Sabrina Gopalakrishnan
Agency: Developmental Disabilities Resource Center
Time at Agency: 1 year, 1 month
Years of Services as a DSP: 1 year, 1 month
Sharon Chamberlain
Agency: Ariel Clinical Services
Time at Agency: 5 years
Years of Services as a DSP: 26 years
Sheila Williams
Agency: Overture
Time at Agency: 16 years
Years of Services as a DSP: 20+ years
Stephanie Treslo
Agency: Sample Supports
Time at Agency: 1 year, 6 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 1 year, 6 months
Tammy Quinonez
Agency: Community Connections, Inc.
Time at Agency: 6 years, 4 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 6 years, 4 months
Toni Andersen
Agency: Laradon
Time at Agency: 8 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 4 years
Trish Nickerson
Agency: Horizons Specialized Services
Time at Agency: 5 years, 10 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 5 years, 10 months
Tristan "Avon" DiCarlo
Agency: Developmental Disabilities Resource Center
Time at Agency: 6 years, 10 months
Years of Services as a DSP: 6 years, 10 months
Virginia Goetzel
Agency: Envision
Time at Agency: 11 years
Years of Services as a DSP: 11 years
Whitney Powers
Agency: Inspiration Field
Time at Agency: unknown
Years of Services as a DSP: Unknown