Embracing Inclusive Communities
At home, school, work, and play
Partnering with the Community
Over a billion people worldwide live with a disability. In the U.S. alone, almost 57 million Americans have a disability impacting daily life, with over 300,000 living in Colorado. The numbers are rapidly increasing, locally and worldwide, due to population aging, decreased infant mortality, improved trauma care, and increases in chronic health conditions. Since 1989, the Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering (formerly Assistive Technology Partners) has worked hand-in-hand with community stakeholders to ensure people with disabilities and seniors thrive at home, school, work, and play.
Community Programs
Colorado Assistive Technology Act Program
The Assistive Technology Program of Colorado strives to increase awareness of and accessibility to assistive technology (AT). Our team helps individuals with disabilities, caregivers, service providers and others to learn, access, and acquire assistive technology (AT) needed for education, employment, and community living.
SWAAAC: Assistive Technology in Colorado Schools
The Statewide Assistive Technology, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (SWAAAC) program is managed and implemented by the Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering. It is sponsored by the Colorado Department of Education and provides a wide range of assistive technology (AT) supports and services to 500 SWAAAC team members representing over 60 school districts across the state.
Tech for Tykes Colorado: Assistive Technology for Early Childhood
The Tech for Tykes’ program supports families in their search for assistive technologies for young children. The time from birth to around three years of age is a crucial, developmental stage of a child’s life and early intervention and assistive technology (AT) can enable them to participate in the home, childcare, and work around them. This not only positively influences them in their ‘tyke’ years, but also builds a foundation of using assistive technology that can have lasting influence as they grow. The Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering offers a groundbreaking program specializing in assistive technology for children up to three years of age.
Emergency Preparedness
The Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering (CIDE) provides Emergency Preparedness and Education Services targeted for persons with disabilities and the elderly. Recent disasters across the nation have highlighted the lack of critical community-based planning for this population. Ensuring individuals and emergency personnel are prepared prior to a disaster is recognized by FEMA and state and local officials as a key to community resilience. Learn More About Emergency Preparedness
Additional Community Programs