Our Own Lives

11/06/2026

Want to support our mission? Through Colorado Gives Day on December 8, your donation up to $100 will be matched by the Colorado Gives Foundation!

You can support us by Donating here:

https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Our-Own-Lives

10/30/2026

Are you excited for this weekend? We would love to have you share your weekend wonders with us! What magical little pieces of the world can you find that have never seen before? Or fun wonder filled memories with friends dressed up for the Halloween festivities, we want to see the pictures and hear about them!

"I wonder if mushrooms can whistle if the wind blows just right..."
Photo Credit: B. Boyer Oct.27, 2026 Durango, CO

10/30/2026

Still true.

Apologies to all of the Autistic people out there getting bombarded with more ugly and incorrect messages about vaccines and Autism.

We accept you for you and will always have your back!

10/28/2026

You’ve pulled off at a small truck stop in small town America, Cortez, CO. You walk up to the deli and notice fresh cut watermelon. A woman behind the counter says “Welcome to Love’s”.

Meet Kiri. She just reached a milestone of working at Loves for 2 years, one of the longest jobs she has ever worked.

One of the highlights of her day is engaging with all of the unique people who walk through the door. She enjoys meeting travelers, near and far, who come through Cortez and being an ambassador of sorts, someone who can greet them with joy and presence and enjoy all the interesting interactions that can come from being in the food service industry to the public.

Kiri spoke about Love’s being a non-judgmental place to work, a place where, over the past two years, she has learned to feel into what it means to become more independent. Love’s is a job that has given her new skills. “I know how to use knife skills safely” She has learned that she can rely on the support from her co-workers and the management at Loves in addition to the support from Our Own Lives.

Kiri also discovered over the past two years that the consistency of employment and supportive management has led to an increase in her motivation to go to work each day, “I’m more motivated to go to work everyday.. I can take care of myself. But if I need any help there’s people I can reach out to.”

She also enjoys that the Love’s company is family run and takes time to celebrate special days which includes recognizing each employee's birthday with a cake of their choosing. In case you were wondering, she chose carrot cake this year.

Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family and ‘birthday-twin’ best friend. The continuity between her family values and the values at Loves have been a uniting thread. Kiri is thrilled to have found community and purpose in both her personal and career opportunities.

10/23/2026

With ballots mailed and Election Day on November 3 quickly approaching, Our Own Lives would like to draw your attention to 3 specific ballot measures that are expected to affect our funding and overall organizational health. We endorse yes votes on Amendment 87, Proposition NN, and a NO vote on Proposition 136.

Amendment 87: (Graduated Tax Rate): Would lower the tax rate for people earning under $1,000,000 per year and increase the tax rate for people earning over $1,000,000 per year. This would create additional tax revenue that would allow increases in funding to Education and Health Care.

Proposition NN: (TABOR Revenue Cap Increase for K-12 Education): The TABOR amendment passed in 1992. One of its provisions is that the State Government budget is not allowed to grow beyond the 1992 level plus inflation and an adjustment for population. This has created a crisis for the past 3 years because Healthcare and Education costs are rising faster than inflation year after year faster than the overall budget is allowed to grow. This has led to 1-1.5 billion in cuts each year for the past 3 and is expected to continue until this is addressed, resulting in Medicaid rate and service cuts that we and our members are experiencing. These cuts are happening even though taxes approved by the voters would fund these services- TABOR requires that revenue be refunded.

Proposition NN would allow the State Budget to grow by an additional 2% per year over the next ten years over the Tabor Revenue Cap to be directed towards K-12 education and full day preschool and childcare. This would not increase taxes but would redirect what are currently surplus taxes usually refunded towards these programs.

Prop NN would not directly affect our funding, but would ease some of the pressure driving these year-after-year cuts we have been experiencing.

We ask to you Vote No on Proposition 136: Prop 136 would cap Income tax Rates at the current 4.4%, which would act in direct opposition to Amendment 87.

10/23/2026

Alliance endorses Amendment 87 and opposes Proposition 136.

We’re fighting for sustainable funding for disability services so that people with IDD maintain access to needed supports and their providers, Case Management Agencies, and Early Intervention Brokers can continue to provide them.

Learn why—and what’s next—in our latest public newsletter.- https://mailchi.mp/alliancecolorado/2026budgetballotupdate

09/25/2026

❤️❤️❤️❤️

When Alliance Colorado held its annual professional Summit in Breckenridge, Sept. 1 to 3, the Durango area was well represented. Four members of the Southwest

09/16/2026

This week is Direct Support Professional week! Our Client Leadership Council had this to say about the impact of Direct Support Professionals on their lives:

Our DSP staff are kind, understanding and dependable. They have helped us accomplish difficult tasks, and prepare for the future. They help us with the little things like cleaning, cooking, getting out for hikes and volunteering to support our community, and big things like helping us find our voice, take leadership roles in our community, and increasing our opportunities to live, work, and play independently.

Thanks for all you do, helping out when needed, going the extra mile, giving and showing how much you care. You are appreciated more than you know!

Sincerely, The Our Own Lives Client Leadership Council