Navigating Disability Colorado empowers the community with practical information to confidently advocate for Disability-related services.

This empowerment positions the Disability Community to craft solutions to systemic ableism and the marginalization that can occur at the intersections of disability with socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, language, gender, sexual orientation, and religion.

Join NDC's online community for free access to empowering & practical information, timely announcements as well as virtual and in person events.

Learn about our Community-Powered Courses

Journey to Medicaid Waiver: Do You Need to Apply for a Colorado Medicaid Waiver?

What? This course is perfect for those who need to apply for a Colorado Medicaid waiver. If you already have a Colorado Medicaid Waiver, you can skip this and do the the Working With Your Waiver course.
Why? Get across the finish line with Medicaid Waivers with this comprehensive course and step by step process. Colorado Medicaid comes with both medical coverage home and community based services annual funding (like respite, community connector, complementary therapies, and much more) to build a full life in the home and community.
Don’t qualify for the waiver after you start the course? No worries, if this course isn’t going to help you, we will refund your money.
How? The course is self-paced with group sessions for accountability. Short, pre recorded video course modules will cover the content. It is a step by step guide to the lengthy initial application process which is generally 3-6 months however that depends on commitment of applicant. It can be shorter or longer. For those who wish to learn about maximizing the waiver after this course, the Working with your Waiver course is recommended.
Where? The course is hosted on the Navigating Disability Colorado online community platform. This course content and weekly group coaching are only for course members.
When? Sign up and start anytime.
Also included: Group weekly live session with Maureen, and question and answer time.
Investment for Journey to Waiver course is $899. Option at check out for no additional cost payment plan. Limited NDC scholarships are available for qualified applicants.

Working With Your Waiver: Maximizing the Services & Finding Providers

What? This course is perfect for you if you have a waiver and desire to better understand the services and utilize them. If you need to apply for a Colorado Medicaid Waiver, the Journey to Medicaid Waiver is the place to start!
Why? It’s a celebration to enroll in a Colorado Medicaid waiver. However, the learning curve to understand or use the waiver services and also find direct service providers, is overwhelming. This course will empower you with an understanding of the waiver service options, using how to maximize one’s annual service plan, allocate services, work with case managers, recruit, interview, hire and train providers. Yes, this class will empower you to be in charge of your services!
How? The course is self-paced with group sessions for accountability. Short, pre-recorded video course modules will cover the content. You will review/audit your current medicaid waiver service plan and learn how to request a service plan revisions, as needs do change. It is empowering to have skills to managing recruitment, interviews and onboarding of the staff, all while maximizing possible waiver benefits.
Where? The course is hosted on the Navigating Disability Colorado online community platform. The course content and weekly group coaching calls are will only for course members.
When? Sign up and start anytime!
Also included: Group weekly live session with Maureen, and question and answer time.
Investment for Working with your Waiver Course? $499. Option for no additional cost payment plan at check out. Limited NDC scholarships are available for qualified applicants.

"I have known Maureen Welch for over 8 years and she has been an incredible resource for me and my family."

I have a 12-year-old daughter with Down Syndrome. If it was not for Maureen, my daughter would not have access to at least half of the resources that currently help her be a successful member of our community. Maureen not only knows about resources available for DD community but she also understands how they work, how they are funded, and what is needed to apply. All of this can be overwhelming or even impossible without Maureen's amazing guidance. I am thankful for Maureen and her knowledge and willingness to share. I would recommend her services any day.

"Disabled people deserve a good quality of life and Maureen has deep knowledge on how to make that happen!"

Maureen helped me to understand how to access my son’s CES Waiver benefits more efficiently. I now know the budget he has down to the penny and how to best access the resources he has available to him. I also better understand how to navigate the appeals process if I should need to do that.

"Her guidance has been vital to our success in securing appropriate disability services."

Maureen’s knowledge of our local Community Centered Board has helped our family navigate everything from the application process to maximizing our funding requests.

[Maureen's] advocacy for the special needs community is priceless.

Raising a special needs child as a single parent is an unimaginably difficult journey. We were fortunate enough to meet Maureen during an extremely trying period of this journey, and she immediately began the process of ensuring we had access to support. She was actively involved, and provided guidance through the entire process of applying for my son’s CHRP waiver. Maureen is not only extremely knowledgeable, she makes herself available, genuinely cares and advocates for us with unwavering support throughout the entire process, and even after so we could access services in the community. I still reach out to her for guidance and will continue to do so. Her advocacy for the special needs community is priceless. -Centennial, CO

About Our Founder

Maureen Welch is Navigating Disability Colorado’s lead creator and founder. She holds Masters Degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education (ages 5-21) and actively holds both a Colorado Teaching License and a Certified Nursing Aide License. She has learned the most by “walking the walk” for her three sons in both the Educational and Medical systems.

In 2014, she began her journey into policy and legislative activism and has been a resource to legislators since 2015 at the Colorado General Assembly. She understands the barriers to access quality, unbiased information in the complex and siloed Industrial Complex of Disability Services in Colorado. The goal is to create a one stop location to get connected and empowered!

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I just watched the recording of the Respite video. Thank you for the information – so helpful and needed for families! I will continue to share your website with families and hope they will jump into this valuable information. I appreciate what you are doing!"

G.S.

Parent caregiver