Our History

This act is established to enhance general public welfare in the U.S. by setting up a framework for federal benefits and assisting states in better supporting elderly, unemployed, and disadvantaged Americans.

The Social Security Act is amended to provide benefits to workers with disabilities ages 50-64 and adult children with disabilities.

This legislation provides federal funding for community mental health centers and research facilities in the United States, leading to considerable deinstitutionalization for people with I/DD.

Developmental Pathways, first known as the Suburban Community Training and Services Center, Inc., is founded in Littleton, Colorado. Our goal is to provide support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families within their own communities instead of institutional settings through offering educational, vocational, and residential programs.

These amendments to the social security act help ensure medical coverage for more Americans, by introducing Medicare, a health insurance program for the elderly, and Medicaid, a health insurance program for individuals with low income. At this point, Medicaid requires coverage of Long-Term Care (LTC) in institutions but not in the home.

Our first educational programs open in Arapahoe County and Aurora. They are designed to provide a continuum of training for individuals with I/DD, ages birth - 21, within public schools. 

Our first vocational program is founded in Englewood and Aurora. It provides jobs and training to individuals with I/DD by giving each participant a real work environment, commensurate wages, and comprehensive vocational services.

Our Early Intervention program for infants aged 0-3 years old with developmental delays begins. It is founded when it became evident that early developmental interventions for babies had a significant impact on their later growth. 

Formerly known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, it leads to DP’s educational programs being integrated into local schools. Local school districts take over the Gallup and First Creek schools and generally hire our employees to teach in the programs.

By this time, we serve 375 individuals and about 250 families, and have residential programs in Littleton, Englewood, and Aurora. These programs teach life skills and foster independence for individuals with I/DD. We also offer a recreation program that includes outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and skiing.

Section 1915(c), an amendment to The Social Security Act of 1981, introduces Medicaid home and community-based (HCBS) waivers. These waivers enable Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) to be delivered at home or intermediate levels of care rather than solely in nursing home facilities.

Colorado is one of the first states to implement an LTSS waiver with the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. It provides access to 24-hour, seven days a week supervision through Residential Habilitation and Day Habilitation Services and Supports.

Suburban Community Training and Services Center, Inc. changes its name to Developmental Pathways.

Provides assistance to people ages 65 and older who have a functional impairment, or are blind, or to people ages 18-64 who are physically disabled or have a diagnosis of HIV or AIDS, and require long-term supports and services in order to remain in a community setting.

This act implements quality controls and penalties for nursing homes, introduces training requirements for nurses’ aides, and establishes training standards for home health agency employees. This legislation was crucial for individuals receiving health care patients and ensured their rights were similar to those in nursing homes.

Our Family Support Program begins. It provides financial assistance and care coordination to families caring for a member with I/DD and is designed to meet these needs in partnership with them, rather than more expensive options.

A pivotal law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in many areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and many public and private places, in order to ensure people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

The Children's Home and Community-Based Services Waiver (CHCBS) is established for children with significant medical needs and who are at risk for institutional care in an acute hospital or skilled nursing facility. Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) is created as a public low-cost health insurance for certain children and pregnant women who earn too much to qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program), but not enough to pay for private health insurance.

We now provide services for over 600 individuals through vocational and residential programs, and case management. We are the third largest entity of our kind in Colorado at the time and consistently provide leadership in developing innovative services. 

Total Long-term Care is established in Colorado, as one of the pioneering nationwide Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) funded by Medicare and Medicaid. PACE provides comprehensive health care services to their participants to enable older adults to live in the community as long as medically and socially feasible.

The Brain Injury (BI) waiver is implemented to help people with a brain injury who need extra support to live in their communities.

The CHRP waiver provides services for children and youth who have an I/DD and very high needs. The CES waiver brings Medicaid funding for children with developmental disabilities who have the most intensive behavioral and/or medical needs. The SLS waiver provides necessary services and supports for individuals with adults with an I/DD so they can remain in their homes and communities with minimal impact to individuals' community and social supports.

A comprehensive program to promote the full participation of people with disabilities in all areas of society by increasing access to assistive and universally designed technologies, expanding educational and employment opportunities, and promoting increased access to daily community life.

Referendum 4(a) is proposed to provide Mill Levy funding from both Arapahoe and Douglas Counties. This means a portion of property taxes would be taken from each county and given to DP to fund supports for individuals with I/DD. It passes with 60% voter approval in Douglas County, and 63% voter approval in Arapahoe County.

CMHS provides assistance to people with a mental illness that require long-term supports and services in order to remain in a community setting.

Creates participant directed options for LTSS. IHSS allows individuals to direct and manage the attendants who provide their personal care, homemaker and health maintenance services, with the added support of an agency. CDASS allows individuals to direct and manage the attendants who provide their personal care, homemaker, and health maintenance services, rather than working through an agency.

At this time, we serve 1,784 individuals and have close to 500 employees. We now maintain 25 active sites, including five apartments, 18 owned group homes, two day program sites, and two administrative buildings.

CLLI program provides Health First Colorado benefits in the home for children with a life-limiting illness. This waiver allows families to seek curative treatment while their child is receiving palliative care.

Provides new options to states under the Medicaid program to incentivize the improvement of their LTC infrastructures and expand HCBS.

We create our Community Outreach Program (currently called Community Outreach Waitlist Services Program). It supports individuals on the waitlist to access other programming and adds additional support for children exiting the Early Intervention program by filling any gaps in services.

The state of Colorado helps to take 700 children off the Children's Extensive Support Waiver waiting list, allowing them to receive services. This effectively eliminates the years-long wait for families seeking help for their children with high needs.

Colorado Legislature ends the waitlist so that anyone who qualifies for the SLS waiver can now enroll in and receive services.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services introduces the HCBS Final Settings Rule, requiring a person-centered approach to care. By July 1, 2024, case management agencies are required to be conflict-free, in line with these regulations.

An effort to streamline access to Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) for all people in need regardless of age, disability or pay source.

Previously called the Spinal Cord Injury Waiver (SCI), this waiver is for adults with a spinal cord injury (traumatic or non-traumatic), multiple sclerosis, brain injury, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, or cerebral palsy who can't walk independently.

Developmental Pathways absorbs our administrative branch, Nonprofit Management Services of Colorado, and separates from Continuum of Colorado. This is done to comply with regulations requiring case management agencies to be conflict-free under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the HCBS Final Settings Rule.

We successfully launch a major transition to become a Case Management Agency. It enables us to provide case management services for Arapahoe, Douglas, and Elbert counties.

We celebrate our anniversary of 60 years of dedication to individuals with disabilities! To commemorate this milestone, we are launching a year-long celebration with the theme "I Am DP,” recognizing everyone who has been a part of our journey.