New efforts underway to increase disability access at the State Capitol

KUNC | By Lucas Brady Woods

Published March 3, 2023 at 12:07 PM MST

Rep. David Ortiz announces a slate of five bills that would address accessibility for people with disabilities on Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2023. The bills would mandate access to government buildings and require health insurance companies to cover equipment for disabled athletes.

State lawmakers introduced a package of five bills Wednesday to expand disability access in Colorado.

Rep. David Ortiz is one of the lawmakers behind the package. He’s also the first state lawmaker to use a wheelchair. While serving in the military in Afghanistan, a helicopter crash left Ortiz paralyzed.

"For far too long Coloradans and Americans with a disability have been overlooked," Ortiz said. "I'm saying this as a person that has lived as an able-bodied individual for 30 years of my life."

One of the bills would require 15% of new residential construction to be wheelchair accessible if the residence contains four or more units. Another bill wants to make all government buildings fully accessible within six years, including the Senate and House Chambers at the State Capitol.

Other efforts would improve access to courts and ensure sports equipment for the disabled is covered by health insurance.

The bills will undergo legislative committee hearings and, if approved, will be considered by the General Assembly.