Welcome to SENSE Colorado

Over the past 30 years, our organization has evolved significantly to better serve our community. We were established in 2000 as the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CCDHH), and expanded in 2018 to include the DeafBlind community (CCDHHDB).

In 2025, Relay Colorado joined us, and we officially became the Communication Services for People with Disabilities Enterprise. To clear up long-standing confusion between our staff and our Governor-appointed advisory board, we also separated our titles into two distinct groups:

• Our Agency Staff: The Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind (CDDHHDB).
• Our Governor-Appointed Council: The Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind Advisory Council (CAC).

Why We Chose a New Name

\With so many long acronyms (CCDHH, CCDHHDB, CSPDE) it became hard to remember who we were. Complex names create barriers, especially for community members whose primary language is not English. Simply put: if people cannot find us, we cannot serve them.

We needed a simple, welcoming identity. We are proud to introduce SENSE Colorado, the new public name for our agency staff. Think of our official state agency titles as our legal names (used on formal documents and contracts), and SENSE Colorado as the familiar name everyone uses in daily communication.

The Meaning of SENSE

Created alongside our community, SENSE is both an acronym for our core values and a reflection of our shared human experience:

• Services
• Education
• Navigation
• Support
• Empowerment

Instead of focusing on clinical labels, SENSE highlights how we all experience the world through our senses—whether we rely on hearing, sight, or touch. It reflects our commitment to statewide service and our mission to build a barrier-free Colorado where everyone is connected to the resources they need to thrive.

The Story Behind Our Logo

Our new logo was designed by a local Deaf artist from Colorado and features thoughtful details representing the communities we serve:

• The Hand Shape: Represents five fingers.
• The Colors: Match the Colorado state flag.
• The Font: Matches Colorado license plates, honoring the license plate fees that fund our Disability Opportunity grants.
• Red and Blue: Reflect traditional audiology symbols (red for the right ear, blue for the left ear).
• The Yellow Circle: Represents the tip of a white-and-red cane used by individuals who are DeafBlind.
• The Curved Lines: The three lines on the right echo standard audio and volume symbols.
• The Blue Lines: Mimic the ASL handshape for the number “3,” which forms the name sign for SENSE Colorado. These three segments also represent our foundational communities: Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind.

Moving Forward Together

While our brand name is simpler and more accessible, our services, staff, and core programs remain completely unchanged.

• To receive weekly updates about our programs, sign up through our subscription form.
• To reach the Colorado Commission Advisory Council, visit their page on the Colorado Department of Human Services website.