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The Vision

The vision is to have a 21st Century Center for Independence (CFI) that is a vital part of the Western Slope community. We would provide training to consumers and the general public about disability access and rights; we would be at the “decision-making table” of the community constantly providing the disability perspective; and we will empowering people with all types of disabilities and all ages to live independently, work and take part in building their community.

While the four core services that are required of all CILs will be provided, Center staff will be using electronic and other methods to serve people more efficiently and effectively across the entire 11 county region. As funding is or becomes available, other services such as recreation, assistive technology, deaf services, employment and community transit training will be considered through the perspective of empowering people with disabilities to create or add to their lives as contributing residents of the Western Slope.

The Data

Information about the numbers of persons with disabilities living in the 11 county service area can be problematic as so many people do not identify themselves as having a disability. Here is what the Census and several other data sources say.

2000 Census

This information was taken from the American Factfinder website (factfinder.census.gov). The disability categories are quite general but the census listed categories of Sensory, Mobility, Cognitive and Self Care (trouble with dressing, bathing or getting around inside the home- Activities of Daily Living). This last category is made up of people who need or are at risk of needing personal assistance services. Typically, these are the individuals that CILS see.

Just looking at the total for all 11 counties it is interesting to see that the prevalent disability for ages 5-15 and 16 to 20 is cognitive but for ages 21 to 75+, mobility becomes the prevalent disability. In some counties sensory comes to the top but for the most part, children have cognitive disabilities and adults tend to have mobility disabilities. This is good information for program decisions and for advocacy purposes, such as the need for accessible transportation. Females are more likely to have mobility problems than men and cognitive disabilities are their second highest disability. Men tend to have mobility problems with sensory disabilities coming in second. If you total all counties’ disability figures for ages 16 and higher, CFI appears to have a potential consumer base 49,427 individuals based on 2000 data.

The data from the Census is now nearly 8 years old and it may not have captured everyone who has a disability but it gives a rough idea the disability population living in the region, county by county. The counties with the most reported disability populations are Mesa, Montrose, Delta, Garfield and Chaffee has a fair amount as does Gunnison. The numbers begin to drop off in Lake, Pitkin, Ouray, San Miguel and Hinsdale counties.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)

The SSI program is a federal benefit that helps people with disabilities who have never worked, among others. The total receiving SSI benefits in the 11 county region is 3765. Generally, this is one of the poorest groups of persons with disabilities.

SSDI recipients usually have been injured while working and have paid enough taxes into the federal system to receive this benefit. The total number of SSDI recipients in the region is 5,435. The chart below breaks out the numbers by county for each program. These numbers come from the 2006 data set from the U.S. Social Security Administration’s Office of Policy website.