Significant Support Needs
If you think your child is struggling at school with his/her learning contact your student's classroom teacher.
REMS is a mild/moderate program site, significant learning and social/emotional needs can be met at your neighborhood schools.
Significant Support Needs (SSN)
The Colorado Department of Education states:
Significant Support Needs (SSN) students require significant support in the areas of cognition and/or learning, communication, movement and social/emotional abilities. The student typically has cognitive and adaptive abilities two standard deviations below average. The individual may also have concurrent health, sensory, physical and/or behavioral disabilities.
Most typically, students receiving support in Special Education that have Significant Support Needs have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and are identified with an Intellectual Disability.
Douglas County Bridge Program:
The Transition Bridge Program for 18 to 21 year old students serves students, families, and schools to empower all students to achieve world class post-secondary outcomes by providing specialized instruction and services.
Below are Community Resources and Post-Graduation Resources
Community Resources
alphabetical order
Building better lives for persons with intellectual developmental disabilities and their families by improving connections to schools, work, and the community through influencing public policy, increasing public awareness, supporting local chapters, and collaborating with other organizations sharing the same values.
Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Center is a member of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s statewide network of workforce centers, which provide a variety of no-cost services to job seekers and businesses. Arapahoe/Douglas Works! serves as a critical resource to connect people and businesses in Arapahoe and Douglas Counties, and throughout the Denver/Aurora metropolitan region.
Aurora Mental Health Center: Intercept Center
Intercept Center is a program with the Aurora Mental Health Center that exclusively serves children who have a developmental disability in addition to a diagnosable mental health condition. Intercept Center’s outpatient services include family, individual and group therapy, medication management services, and case management services. Intercept’s outpatient services are specialized and adapted for youth who qualify for developmental disability services and who are between the ages of 6 years and 21 years of age.
The mission of the Autism Society of Colorado is to improve the lives of all affected by autism. This includes families, providers, educators, and members of the community. At ASC, we say that we advocate, inform, and share the journey with thousands of Coloradans.
We are a nonprofit health plan that provides access to behavioral and physical health services for Coloradans. Below is a list of our current lines of business:
About Access Long Term Support Solutions
About Child Health Plan Plus offered by Colorado Access
About the Regional Care Collaborative Organization (RCCO)
We also provide administrative services for the CHP+ State Managed Care Network and CHP+ Prenatal Care Program. To learn more about the CHP+ State Managed Care Network, visit www.chpplusproviders.com.
Developmental Pathways is a Colorado non-profit agency created to serve persons with developmental disabilities and their families. It was established in 1964 as a community-based alternative to institutional care. Since that time, Pathways has developed a broad array of services based on the principle that full inclusion and participation in community life is attainable for every individual with a developmental disability. Developmental Pathways serves citizens of Arapahoe and Douglas Counties, and the portion of Adams County within the city of Aurora city limits.
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation assists people with disabilities to succeed at work and live independently. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation will help place individuals with employers and after placement, employers and employees will get ongoing support from our professional staff, including job training, guidance on the ADA regulations, and information on disability and employment guidelines. We can also help with financial incentives and facilitation of tax credits.
The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) assists state and local workforce development systems to better serve all youth, including youth with disabilities and other disconnected youth. The NCWD/Youth, is composed of partners with expertise in education, youth development, disability, employment, workforce development and family issues. NCWD/Youth offers a range of technical assistance services to state and local workforce investment boards, youth councils and other workforce development system youth programs.
A respite care a respite care program for families with children with special needs and their siblings between 1 month and 12 years old. There are 4 locations currently for families (Arvada, Littleton, Parker, Broomfield). They offer this service for free for 1 night a month. Each location is staffed with volunteers, program leadership, and a nurse.
The mission of PEAK Parent Center is to provide training, information and technical assistance to equip families of children birth through twenty-six including all disability conditions with strategies to advocate successfully for their children. As a result of PEAK's services to families and professionals, children and adults with disabilities will live rich, active lives participating as full members of their schools and communities.
The mission of Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association is to assure inclusion and enhance independence of people with Down syndrome. We will achieve this by providing education, resources and support in partnership with individuals, families, professionals, and the community.
The School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP) is a collaborative initiative between the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and local school districts/Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), and is supported by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).
SWAP provides case management and direct services to young adults with disabilities who: Are potentially eligible, applicants of or are eligible to receive DVR services (meeting disability documentation requirements and able to benefit from the program); and Have mild to moderate needs in employment; Need support in developing vocational awareness, career exploration, and experiencing career and employment opportunities to become competitively employed and to achieve successful outcomes.
Special education News is a newspaper that provides information on issues related to special education.
Post-Graduation Resources
(Individuals 21 year of age or older)
The mission of Wellspring Community is to provide a work, enrichment and educational community where adults with special needs are empowered to live full, productive and satisfying lives in a God-centered and nurturing environment
New Day is dedicated to providing quality services to the citizens of our community with Special Needs. Our commitment is to enhance the quality of life for all individuals regardless of race, age, ethnicity, gender or ability.
At Bethesda, we believe support begins with the individual. We make a difference in the lives of those who choose to receive our support by being an active and involved part of their everyday lives. We get to know their interests and their passions. We work together to identify the services that will best support them through important life decisions including how to live, work and play.
Supporting the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. HighPointe can meet the physical, developmental, and social needs of the adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities we serve.
Garden provides exceptional services & programs for individuals of all ages and abilities. We offer a wide variety of one-to-one & group based programming for children, adolescents & adults year around. All of our programs are guided by the foundations of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) & are cultivated to meet the unique needs of each individual we serve.
College Living Experience (CLE) providers post-secondary supports for young adults with learning differences. Dedicated to providing the highest quality of services, we strive to propel young adults toward success as they journey through their transition to independence.
Can't find what you need or need additional resources?
Dial 211 in Colorado to access health & human services information & referrals
The Douglas County Youth Initiative Guide. Resources are alphabetical. All therapeutic resources have been recommended by School District Mental Health Professionals. http://www.douglas.co.us/documents/youth-and-family-resource-guide.pdf