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Accessibility

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Accessibility Statement

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) is committed to providing all Coloradoans with equitable access to our services. CDEC is committed to providing timely responses to reports of inaccessible information or technology, or requests for a reasonable accommodation or modification. Such a report or request can be made to CDEC_ADA@state.co.us or by calling (720) 947-5020.

For questions regarding the Colorado Universal Preschool Program ("UPK"), please contact the Program directly at cdec_upk-program@state.co.us.  

CDEC shall make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures in an effort to ensure CDEC programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities and to ensure nondiscrimination against persons with disabilities. 

Furthermore, in addition to and beyond CDEC’s efforts regarding reasonable modifications to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities, CDEC is committed to ensuring access and preventing discrimination against all persons, and is committed to providing access and services for individuals whose first language is not English.
 

Statement of Web Accessibility

CDEC’s ongoing accessibility effort works toward being in line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, level AA criteria. These guidelines help make technology accessible to users with sensory, cognitive, and mobility disabilities, and ultimately to all users, regardless of ability or native language.

We welcome your requests for accommodations and feedback about the accessibility of CDEC’s online services. Please let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers by emailing us at CDEC_ADA@state.co.us or by calling (720) 947-5020.

For questions regarding the Colorado Universal Preschool Program ("UPK"), please contact the Program directly at cdec_upk-program@state.co.us.  

This website is part of a meaningful change in making all State of Colorado services inclusive and accessible. We welcome comments on how to improve this website’s accessibility for users with disabilities, for requests for reasonable modifications or accommodations to any State of Colorado services, or for any other access-based requests for accommodations, including for language needs.

Access the State of Colorado Accessibility standards and resources. For questions about the State of Colorado Accessibility Standards, email OIT_Accessibility@state.co.us.  

For more information on how to request a reasonable accessibility modification beyond the information, email, and phone number listed above, please refer to the resources below:

Available Accessibility Resources & Feedback

  • Access for the Visually and Hearing Impaired: Dial 711 or (800) 659-3656 to reach Relay Colorado. Relay Colorado is a free service that provides full telephone access to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled.
    • Aira: Free for up to 30 minutes per session. The State of Colorado is excited to offer a new service for blind and low-vision Coloradans through a partnership with Aira, an app that provides live, on-demand visual interpreting through human-to-human assistance. Coloradans get free access for up to 30 minutes per session while navigating state locations and digital services, reducing barriers to services and creating a more welcoming Colorado for all. To learn more about Aira, including frequently asked questions about the service, visit the Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT) Aira webpage.
  • The Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind: The Commission provides programs and services for accessibility, communication, technology, and education. Explore their website for information about services, provider directories, and more.
  • CDEC Employee Accommodations: Contact CDEC’s Human Resources at cdec_humanresourcesinquiry@state.co.us.
  • Locations & Facilities: CDEC strives to provide services and hold meetings in locations accessible to people with disabilities. Contact CDEC at CDEC_ADA@state.co.us or by calling (720) 947-5020 to make a facilities accommodation request regarding CDEC’s building at 710 S. Ash Street, and you will be directed to the CDEC Facilities and Operations Unit.
  • Language Services: In addition, CDEC provides language services to individuals whose first language is not English, when needed to ensure equal opportunity and meaningful access to the department's programs, services and activities.
    • Examples of language services include, but are not limited to:
      • Qualified sign language interpreters;
      • Written information in other formats;
      • Foreign language interpreters; and
      • Information translated into other languages.
    • To request Language Services, please contact CDEC at CDEC_ADA@state.co.us or by calling (720) 947-5020.
  • Records Requests: The Colorado Open Records Act, (CORA) C.R.S. § 24-72-201 to 206, provides that all public records shall be open for inspection by any person at reasonable times, except as provided in part 2 or as otherwise specifically provided by law. It is the intention of CDEC to apply this Act in a uniform and reliable manner to comply with its provisions. Please visit our CORA web page for information on how to request a CDEC record not accessible on a CDEC website. You may also submit a request directly to CDEC_CORA@state.co.us.


Nondiscrimination Notice

CDEC complies with applicable federal and state civil rights laws and does not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, creed, political beliefs, or disability in employment, admission or access to, treatment or participation in, or receipt of the services and benefits under any of CDEC’s programs, services, and activities, whether carried out by CDEC directly or through a contractor or any other entity with which it arranges to carry out its programs, services, and activities.

This statement is in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued pursuant to these statutes at Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 80, 84, and 91 and Title 28 CFR Part 35, regulations of the State of Colorado issued pursuant to these statutes at Title 24 Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) Parts 4, 6, 8 and 34, Title 10 Code of Colorado Regulations (CCR) Section 8.100 and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. Additionally, this statement is in accordance with Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, 42 U.S.C. § 18116.


Discrimination Complaints

Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability in any CDEC program or activity. This prohibition applies to all programs of CDEC, agencies and organizations that receive money from CDEC, such as contractors, consultants, local agencies and anyone else who acts on CDEC’s behalf.

While written complaints and reports of sexual harassment or retaliation are preferred, CDEC shall accept all complaints and reports, whether written, verbal, or anonymous, and will ensure that each complaint or report is promptly and appropriately investigated and resolved.

CDEC will review all complaints and reports of sexual harassment and retaliation they receive and shall notify the Human Resources office of the same within two (2) business days of receipt.

CDEC shall create a record of each complaint handled under this Policy and shall maintain the records in secure and confidential files for 10 years or until after the last party involved is no longer within the workplace, whichever is longer.