About IDEA Services’ Founder - Senior Advocate

IDEA Services was founded by Jeff Konrade-Helm, a disability advocate spanning three decades. Jeff began disability advocacy for his older brother with developmental disabilities when, in 1983, he became his brother's primary care provider. He spent most of the 1990s advocating for his younger daughter who has autism and began advocating for other families in 1995 when he co-chaired the executive committee of a parent-run nonprofit organization responsible for administering Part C (then Part H) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to provide services to children birth through age 2 with developmental disabilities or delays.
In 2003, Jeff joined the staff of the Autism Society of Colorado where he was the organization’s primary educational and developmental disability advocate. In addition to special education advocacy, Jeff has helped families and individuals: appeal developmental disability eligibility appeals; housing and homelessness issues; criminal justice issues; finding appropriate services and supports – just about anything that can happen in the daily challenges of living with disabilities.

Jeff continues to serve on the Colorado Department of Human Services/Division for Developmental Disabilities Work Group to create the Definition for Developmental Disabiities in Colorado.

Jeff recently finished serving on the Colorado Developmental Disability Definition Task Force to redefine Colorado's restrictive DD policies; and serves on the 2009 Public Policy and Advocacy Committee of the Arc of the United States.

Jeff also just finished serving on the Vaccine Advisory Committee for Colorado (VACC) - 2007-2009.

Special Education advocates are not licensed or otherwise bound by an industry code of conduct or ethics. That is why it is important to work with an advocate who voluntarily adheres to a professional code of ethics.
Jeff adheres to the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) Voluntary Code of Ethics for Special Education Advocates. Jeff is a member of COPAA.

COPAA Voluntary Code of Ethics for Special Education Advocates
COPAA Guidelines for Choosing a Special Education Advocate

Testimonials

Mark K. (North Denver-Metro Area)
Abigail O. (South Denver-Metro Area)
Please contact IDEA Services to obtain contact information for these clients.