Accessible Text-Only Version for Screen Readers and Braille Displays
Document Note: All visual elements, such as charts and photos from the original PDF, have been translated into plain text descriptions or structural tables to ensure full accessibility for individuals relying on screen readers or Braille displays.
Dear Community,
Welcome to SENSE Colorado's first-ever Annual Report. On June 30, 2025, we launched the Communication Services for People with Disabilities Enterprise, a government-owned business within the Colorado Department of Human Services, staffed by the Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind (CDDHHDB or Division). Our mission remains the same: a barrier-free Colorado for over 750,000 residents who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, or have speech disabilities and the people who connect with them.
The name "SENSE" reflects our commitment to Services, Education, Navigation, Support, and Empowerment. Whether you've known us as the former Commission or are getting to know us as the Division or as the SENSE Colorado Enterprise, our commitment to the community has only grown.
This report covers our state fiscal year (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026, or SFY26) and highlights how we've put our values into action:
These milestones were made possible by our dedicated staff, our Board, and our community partners. Thank you for being a vital part of our story as we look forward to making Colorado more accessible for everyone.
With a SENSE of gratitude,
Trish Leakey, J.D., Executive Director
Katie Cue, Ed.D., Deputy Executive Director
Image Description: The annual report has an image of both directors standing in front of a glass window with the Colorado Department of Human Services logo.
The annual report has a table of contents with main section titles and page numbers.
Established by House Bill 25-1154, the Communication Services for People with Disabilities Enterprise - operating as SENSE Colorado - is a government-owned business within the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). The Enterprise was launched on June 30, 2025.
Our mission is to provide essential services that empower and connect the estimated 750,000 Coloradans who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, or speech-disabled. Through 12 distinct programs, we offer centralized navigation, communication support, training, and outreach to individuals, businesses, and government partners.
Image Description: The annual report has an image of our staff posing for a group picture. Back L to R: Luke Adams, Christine Pendley, Jennifer Pfau, Trish Leakey, Mandy Pierce-Turner, Katie Cue, Alyssa Wells. Front L to R: Holly Bise, Jamie Wernlein, Lorri Dean, Brooke Bonheyo, Ali Lombardi, Elli Streifer, Neal Tucker, Beth Langer.
Page Footer: The annual report features footers playing off our SENSE name and it says “A SENSE of…” with page numbers. This page’s word is “A SENSE of Mission”.
You may know us as the Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind (CDDHHDB or Division) or by our previous name, the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind (CCDHHDB or Commission). While our name has evolved to the more accessible SENSE Colorado, our team and our commitment to building a barrier-free state remain the same.
The name "SENSE" reflects our core values: Services, Education, Navigation, Support, and Empowerment.
Image Description: The annual report shows the new Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind logo as well as the previous Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind logo.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Identity.
We adopted the SENSE Colorado alias and branding to make it easier for the community and our partners to find, remember, and access our services when they need them most.
The name "SENSE" reflects our core values:
Image Description: The annual report shows three variations of our new SENSE Colorado logo. All variations use a stylized red and blue checkmark-like “V” icon and the words “sense” and “COLORADO” in blue, plus a small yellow circle accent. Sometimes the text appears below the checkmark or to the right. In one variation, the checkmark is displayed at the top right of the logo like an asterisk.
Page footer: A SENSE of Meaning.
A page with a collage of eight pictures. Top Row: Wynne Whyman, Terri Shirley, and Trish at the Colorado Environmental Film Festival; Luke with professional and community members at Deaf Awareness Night at the Colorado Rapids; O&M Vendor Ellie Carlson with a guide dog. Middle row: Governor Polis signing HB 25-1154 flanked by bill supporters; families and DHH children watch a storytime performance at the Colorado Hands & Voices Winter Fest. Bottom Row: Cynde Vaughn presents while Michelle Hoagland provides Protactile support; Attendees at the Lived Experience Day at the Capitol; Luke with Sheryl Emery and Bucky Buckhold at the National Black Deaf Advocates conference.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Community.
SENSE Colorado is governed by a Governor-appointed board of up to seven members (currently three members). This board oversees enterprise operations, manages fee structures to fund programs, and establishes rules. Current board member terms are through June 30, 2028:
Image Description: The annual report shows three side by side pictures of the Board members.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Stewardship.
Our daily operations are led by a dedicated team from the Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind (Division). In June 2025, we were pleased to welcome Holly Bise and Lorri Dean to the SENSE Colorado team from the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). This transition, which supported the establishment of the Enterprise, allowed Relay Colorado to join our program family, allowing us to work together more closely to strengthen service delivery.
Image Description: The annual report shows a hierarchical chart of navy blue boxes with red lines connecting them and the directors’ boxes highlighted in yellow:
Page Footer: A SENSE of Teamwork.
Our mission is a barrier-free Colorado. SENSE Colorado operates twelve programs under six umbrellas focused on supporting services, communication, and navigation for DHHDB and speech-disabled populations of all ages:
Facilitates access to sign language interpreters and Communication Access Realtime Translation, or CART (human-generated captioning) for state courts and administrative proceedings (Legal Program or LCAS) and rural areas (Rural Program or RCAS).
Distributes accessibility-related equipment through the Communications Technology Program (CTP) and National DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP or iCanConnect/iCC) and administers Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS or Relay Colorado).
Provides Community Interveners (CIP) for DeafBlind children and adults with additional cognitive disabilities, Orientation & Mobility (O&M) training, and Support Service Providers (SSPs). All promote independent living.
Annual $50,000 small grant incubator program and up to $25,000 in sponsorships for Colorado communities.
Supports families of DHH children (birth to 36 months) through early hearing detection and intervention, aiming for 1-month screening, 3-month identification, and 6-month enrollment in services.
DHHDB adult-to-family mentoring program pairing DHHDB adults with families of DHHDB children (birth to 21 years) to provide lived experiences, knowledge, and support.
Image Description: The annual report has a group picture. COEHDI Coordinator Beth (third from right) poses with Colorado attendees at the National EHDI conference.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Scope and A SENSE of Beginnings (this section spans two pages).
Image Description: The Annual Report has a group picture. Internal Operations staff pose for a group picture. Back L to R: Jamie, Christine, Mandy, Alyssa. Front L to R: Ali, Brooke, Holly, Luke.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Structure.
A page with a collage of eight pictures. Top L to R: Tera Spangler, Katie, Trish, Eileen Kratzer at the Colorado Deaf Festival; Christine and Mandy present on legal interpreting; Schedulers Jamie and Mandy. Middle L to R: Dr. Sandy Ho, Trish, Ndeye Ndao, Luke, Katie; Christine and Katie with Protactile Training attendees. Bottom L to R: Mandy and Ali at the CRID conference; Luke with attendees at the Statewide Cross-Agency Accessibility Meetup; Lorri, Holly, JoAnne Hirsch, Mandy at the Relay Colorado Zoo event.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Action.
Total Cash Fund Revenue Source | Amount Collected | Details
|
Telephone Disability Access Surcharge | $4.4 million | Eight cents per line (capped at 15 cents), collected via Public Utilities Commission. |
Prepaid Wireless Telephone Disability Access Charge | $288,000 | Eight cents per retail transaction (capped at 15 cents), collected via Department of Revenue. |
Image Description: Annual Report shows an image of a dollar bill split in half and the other half split roughly ⅓ and ⅔ .
Page Footer: A SENSE of Impact.
Image Description: A pie chart shows a visual breakdown of the total program expenditures across the different categories listed below.
Total Program Expenditures: $2,302,983
Page Footer: A SENSE of the Numbers.
Program | Amount Allocated | Amount Spent | % Spent
|
Board and Staff CAS | $114,000 | $111,312 | 98% |
CIP | $200,000 | $158,880 | 79% |
CTP | $235,000 | $148,125 | 63% |
Grants | $50,000 | $42,852 | 86% |
LCAS | $800,000 | $748,244 | 94% |
RCAS | $360,000 | $230,033 | 64% |
SSP/O&M | $600,000 | $571,456 | 95% |
Page Footer: A SENSE of Transparency.
Program | Amount Allocated | Amount Spent | % Spent
|
Sponsorships | N/A | $18,445 | N/A |
TRS | $300,000 | $92,636 | 31% |
Image Description: The annual report has a group picture. Katie (top row, third from right & Beth (bottom row, third from left) pose with attendees at the Colorado Hands & Voices Winter Fest.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Innovation.
The Communication Access Services (CAS) program ensures access to effective communication across the state through sign language interpreting and live, human-generated captioning CART services. Our work focuses on two primary areas:
LCAS provides communication access services for DHHDB Coloradans during state court proceedings, probation appointments, court-ordered treatment classes, and state administrative hearings. LCAS also issues Legal Credential Authorizations (LCA) to sign language interpreters and CART captioners who meet the standards for court and legal settings. Local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies rely on LCAS' referral resource list to secure qualified providers.
The RCAS program reduces communication barriers in eligible rural Colorado communities by providing education, referrals, and, if needed, sign language interpreting and CART services at no cost to local residents or entities. Beyond direct service delivery, RCAS actively builds local service capacity by providing specialized training, educational resources, and certification support for interpreters and captioners willing to serve rural areas across the state.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Inclusion.
Image Description: The annual report features a bar chart illustrating CAS Service Growth & Impact. The y-axis scales to 10,000 h. For LCAS, SFY25 shows 7,279 h and SFY26 shows 9,900 h. For RCAS, SFY25 shows 2,081 h and SFY26 shows 2,202 h.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Access.
The Communications Technology Access Programs (CTAP) ensure that qualified Coloradans who are DHHDB, or have speech disabilities have access to essential telecommunications equipment, specialized training, and support services. CTAP operates three programs:
CTP provides specialized communication equipment, educational resources, and individual training based on income guidelines. Distributed equipment includes amplified and captioned telephones, smartphones, tablets, alerting and notification systems, and personal listening devices.
Colorado's ICC program equips qualifying DeafBlind individuals with advanced telecommunications technology-such as smartphones, laptops, braille displays, and screen-reading tools-paired with one-on-one training to enable independent two-way communication.
Relay Colorado is a free, statewide public service available 24/7/365 that bridges telephone calls between standard telephone users and individuals who use specialized equipment like Text Telephones (TTYs) or captioned telephones. By simply dialing 711, callers are connected instantly to a certified Communications Assistant who facilitates real-time communication.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Connection.
Metric | CTP (State Program) | ICC (Federal Grant)
|
Applications Received | 125 | 41 |
Applications Granted | 92 | 33 |
Devices Distributed | 615 | 195 |
Total Expenditures | $148,125 | $89,425 |
Image Description: The annual report features a pie chart shows Relay Colorado annual minutes broken down by service type adding up to 17,000 total minutes:
A SENSE of Reach.
SENSE Colorado operates three DeafBlind Programs (DBP) that promote independence, community connection, and accessible navigation for DeafBlind Coloradans:
The CIP provides one-on-one communication access and environmental mapping to help DeafBlind children, as well as DeafBlind adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, build meaningful connections.
The O&M Program pairs DeafBlind consumers with specialized instructors who teach skills for safe, confident, and independent travel in diverse surroundings.
The SSP Program pairs DeafBlind adults with trained SSPs who provide visual and environmental information and communication access during daily community activities.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Belonging.
Image Description: The annual report features a bar chart illustrating DBP Service Growth & Impact. The y-axis scales to 10,000 h. For SSP and O&M Service Hours, SFY25 shows 5,227 h and SFY26 shows 9,216 h. For Community Intervener Service Hours, SFY25 shows 2,004 h and SFY26 shows 2,823 h.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Expansion.
The Colorado Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (COEHDI) program ensures infants and young children across Colorado are screened for hearing differences early and connected to timely support. Funded primarily through a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), COEHDI provides support and resources to families of DHH children aged birth to 36 months. The COEHDI team works in conjunction with three other state agencies and professional partners to ensure national 1-3-6 Milestones are met:
Beyond these milestones, COEHDI connects families with peer support and introduces DHHDB children and their families to DHHDB adult role models through the Ascent Program. COEHDI is dedicated to helping every child build a strong foundation for language, communication, and social development.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Support.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Partnership.
Reactivated in SFY26, the Ascent Program connects DHHDB youth through age 21 and their families with trained DHHDB Adult Advisors. By sharing their lived experiences, insights, and practical encouragement, Advisors help children, young adults, and families navigate real-world opportunities and choices.
Through home, school, and community visits, Advisors build bridges of understanding by sharing their lived experiences, answering questions, and providing practical resources directly to families, students, and young adults.
Image Description: The annual report shows an Ascent Advisor Home visit. An Ascent Advisor visits with a parent and a DHH child.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Possibilities.
SENSE Colorado administers an annual $50,000 small grant incubator program and provides up to $25,000 in yearly sponsorships for Colorado communities.
In SFY26, the Division awarded three grants totaling $45,852 to enhance accessibility, early education, and independence for Colorado's DHHDB communities. This funding included $29,434 to the Rocky Mountain Deaf School for early literacy programs, $10,000 to Paragon Service Dogs to expand hearing service dog partnerships, and $6,418 to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind for specialized ASL training for healthcare providers.
Image Description: The annual report shows logos for RMDS, Paragon Service Dogs, and CSDB side by side.
The Division also piloted a sponsorship program for community organizations modeled on Relay Colorado's previous sponsorship opportunities. A total of 31 sponsorships in the amount of $18,445 were awarded to support various community events, including the following highlights:
Page Footer: A SENSE of Growth.
These five internal operations units support SENSE Colorado's programs and services.
Communications Specialist
Interpreting Unit
Fiscal Unit
Scheduling Unit
Training & Outreach
Page Footer: A SENSE of Drive.
The Scheduling Unit received thousands of requests and scheduled nearly 26,000 hours of services with only 112 unfilled requests across all programs.
Image Description: The annual report features an infographic displaying statistics for the Scheduling Unit, detailing requests received, hours delivered, and percentage fill rates.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Achievement.
Dear Partners and Friends,
As we look back on our successful first year as an Enterprise, we are already excited about what's ahead for State Fiscal Year 2027. We remain deeply committed to making sure every Coloradan has the tools they need to communicate and thrive.
Last year, our team grew from 10 to 15 staff members. This growth allows us to move beyond just maintaining our essential services and focus on actively expanding our reach across the state. To make this happen, we are focusing on three main goals:
Thank you for your partnership as we build this next chapter together.
With a SENSE of Shared Purpose,
Trish Leakey, J.D.
Executive Director
Katie Cue, Ed.D.
Deputy Executive Director
Image Description: The annual report shows a picture of Trish and Katie with their hands on their hips.
Page Footer: A SENSE of Vision and A SENSE of Continuity (this section spans two pages).