The Colorado Disability Opportunity Office is awarding $2 million to 34 organizations around the state to help fund projects to improve the lives of Coloradans with disabilities. 

According to the state agency, nearly 200 organizations applied for the grants, the largest number of applicants to date. Projects included technology-enhanced job training, service dog training, and after-school programs.

According to Director Danny Combs, the Disability Funding Committee evaluated the “originality and innovation” of each grant request, as well as the number of people each project would impact, to narrow down the list to 34 recipients.

While the committee had a hard time narrowing down the finalists, Combs said the high demand they’ve seen for grants is a “testament to Colorado’s commitment to serving the disability community across the state.”

“We’re very excited to see these projects come to fruition,” he added.

This round of grantees included organizations such as Prospect Academy of Colorado, NeuAbility, Audio Information Network of Colorado, Domino Service Dogs, and the Colorado Center for the Blind.

Established in 2024 by House Bill 1360, CDOO serves as the point of contact for state and private entities and the public to “advance the integration and inclusion of the disability community.”

The Disability Funding Committee consists of 13 Governor-appointed members, at least seven of whom live with a disability or have firsthand experience working with the disability community. Along with overseeing the distribution of grants, the committee also assists Coloradans with disabilities in applying for programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicaid.