DENVER - The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) announced today it has hired Danny Combs to lead the newly established Colorado Disability Opportunity Office (CDOO). Combs was the founder and Executive Director of Teaching Autism Community Trades (TACT) Inc. and also the co-founder and Board Chair of Colorado Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce. With his extensive experience in leading these 501c3 nonprofits aimed at supporting neurodivergent individuals with employment training and opportunities, Combs will lead CDOO's efforts to increase efficiency and fill gaps in disability policy by facilitating cross-agency collaboration and disability community engagement as enacted by HB24-1360.

"We are committed to delivering a Colorado for all where everyone can thrive no matter their abilities, and I'm happy to have Danny leading the charge in coordinating our disability-related efforts and the amazing opportunities for disabled Coloradans across Colorado," said Governor Jared Polis. "Danny is the right person to build a team of talented individuals to facilitate collaboration and engage with Coloradans who are disabled."

"I am proud of the accomplishments our Administration has made to increase opportunities and independence of Coloradans with disabilities as a key part of our efforts to create a Colorado for All," said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. "The Colorado Disability Opportunity Office (CDOO) will ensure this progress continues into the future."

As the CDOO Director, Combs will not only facilitate the collaboration among state agencies, but also among disability advocates, boards and committees to advise the Governor's Office on coordinated disability policies and services across the various agencies responsible for them. Combs will also be responsible for hiring additional CDOO policy staff and overseeing Colorado Disability Funding Committee (CDFC) staff.

"I am eager to jump into this new role and help create a more supportive infrastructure that creates equality of opportunity for all Coloradans," said CDOO Director Danny Combs. "As we build a more inclusive and equitable state, it is imperative to ensure that all Coloradans have equal access to employment opportunities, services and the resources they need to thrive."

The new office is housed under CDLE, which currently oversees the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) which provides a wide variety of individualized services for people with disabilities to reach their employment goals and live independently. By housing the CDOO within CDLE, disability policy will be framed through an opportunity lens with the goal of helping those with disabilities get on a path to self-sufficiency, so more people with disabilities can prosper.

"We're excited to have Danny join our executive leadership team and hit the ground running with CDOO," said CDLE Executive Director Joe Barela. "Danny's experience and commitment to creating a thriving economy that elevates all of Colorado will add to our existing array of services and support for Coloradans with disabilities."

The establishment of CDOO is designed to support and elevate agencies in their work. It will serve as a resource not only for state agencies, but for private and nonprofit organizations and the public on all things concerning disability in Colorado. Recognizing the distributed nature of programs that support Coloradans with disabilities, advocates for disability rights in Colorado have consistently strived for the establishment of a centralized disability policy office.

Financing for CDOO will come from the Disability Support Fund, the main cash fund administered by the CDFC, using revenue from historic license plate backgrounds and the sale of the rights to reserved license plate configurations.

Combs is expected to begin his new role on November 12.

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