We are thrilled to welcome Christina Bremer as the Program Manager for our exciting new initiative, the Community Partners Program. This program is designed to bridge the gap between individuals with disabilities and services by fostering strong partnerships with organizations.
As the Program Manager, Christina brings over 12 years of experience and passion for disability advocacy, helping to enhance the lives of individuals in our community. She will lead efforts to build collaborations that support residents with the resources, skills, and connections necessary to thrive.
Christina is originally from Chicago and applied to Imagine! because she wanted to work with an agency that was excited about providing creative solutions to individuals seeking services. She is excited to be able to connect services to any and everyone who qualifies. Christina believes that it takes a group of creative team members to fulfill that goal. Additionally, she can’t wait to cultivate relationships with community partners and expand Imagine! services to serve other disability waivers.
Some fun facts about Christina are that she has two little girls, is always down to go to concerts, and loves cooking!
About the Community Partners Program
The Community Partners Program offers a range of services to help organizations better serve diverse populations and empower individuals with disabilities to live independently and fully participate in their communities.
Imagine! started this program because over 78% of people with IDD in the United States are NOT being served by I/DD agencies. This could be due to undiagnosed disabilities, lack of knowledge of what services are available, or barriers including language, transportation, or lack of technical assistance. But we know that for every increase in service-related choice, the positive outcomes are endless, including a 35% decrease in injuries, lower likelihood of living in a nursing home, and general increased quality of life.*
Our goal with this program is to provide support and navigation of services to individuals living in low-income housing, experiencing homelessness or food insecurity, or are otherwise unable to find care. Additionally, we will also provide accessibility support, specialized training, and more to organizations across Colorado so that they are able to fulfill their mission of supporting diverse populations.
Support for Residents
Our team of experts, under Christina’s leadership, will work directly with residents to provide peer mentorship, skill-building workshops, and guidance through the complex network of disability services. The goal? To ensure every individual has the advocacy and support they need to live with greater independence and well-being.
Accessibility Resources
We’re committed to making our community more inclusive. The Community Partners Program provides tailored advice on inclusive design, accessibility standards, and adaptive strategies to help organizations better serve community members with disabilities. Christina and the team will work closely with these groups to ensure their programs are fully accessible and welcoming to individuals with disabilities.
Community Integration
Through a curated calendar of events and community-building activities, we offer residents meaningful opportunities to engage with others, build friendships, and live fulfilling lives. By fostering inclusion, we’re enriching not just individual well-being but also contributing to the long-term success of our partner organizations.
We are confident that Christina’s leadership will drive this program forward. We can’t wait to see the the Community Partners team create lasting, positive change for both residents and partner organizations. Stay tuned for more updates as we work together to create an inclusive, accessible community for all!
Welcome, Christina – we’re so glad to have you on board!
*Studies referenced in this article:
Institute on Community Integration. (n.d.). How many people have intellectual and developmental disabilities?
Friedman, C. (2023). The relationship between choice and injuries of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 61(3), 185–196.
McGarry, B. E., & Grabowski, D. C. (2023). Medicaid home and community‐based services spending for older adults: Is there a “woodwork” effect? Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 71(10), 3143–3151.
Lahaije, S. T. A., Luijkx, J., Waninge, A., & Van Der Putten, A. a. J. (2024). Family resilience Affecting Well-Being of families with a child with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 62(2), 101–113.
