Carrie Kreutzer with Raena, who participates in the Community Connections Day Program.
Disabilities come in all shapes and sizes. Some individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) also have challenges communicating their desires or needs with the professionals trying to support them. Thanks to the talents of Direct Support Professional (DSP) Carrie Kreutzer, Dungarvin Colorado’s Community Connections Day Program is now able to serve people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
For most of her life, Carrie has worked with individuals with I/DD and she is well versed in American Sign Language, which means the Day Program in Jefferson County can now welcome more people from this community.
Dungarvin Colorado’s Community Connections Day Program is now able to serve people who are deaf or hard of hearing, thanks to the skills and experience of Direct Support Professional (DSP) Carrie Kreutzer. She’s well versed in American Sign Language, and has worked with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) for most of her life.
Serving people in need of supports is much more than a job for Carrie, who said she was called to it at a young age. She was a junior high school student when she began volunteering at Wheat Ridge Regional Center in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. She supported individuals with profound I/DD and discovered she had passion for the work.
That experience led her to pursue a degree in Special Education. While attending the University of Northern Colorado, her first roommate was studying for a degree in Deaf Education, and that’s when Carrie found another strong interest: American Sign Language.
Later, she had the opportunity to hone her ASL skills as a member of a co-ed household on campus called the “Sign House.” All residents of that house communicated exclusively in sign language when home.
Carrie went on to teach Special Education for more than 19 years, retiring in 2018. However, it wasn’t long before she felt called to once again share her skills. “I decided I didn’t want to retire — I needed to be out doing things,” she said.
Because of her talents, we are now able to serve deaf individuals, and enhance their lives, as we do for our other participants.
Lisa Taft, Day Program Director
She began working for the Developmental Disabilities Resource Center in Jefferson County, supporting people in group homes. Later, she earned a Nursing Assistant certificate and began serving older adults in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
About a year ago, a friend of Carrie’s told her that Dungarvin Colorado was seeking a DSP for its Day Program, and she decided to take a leap.
“Since her start with us in June 2025, she has helped us build the dream team that we are today,” said Day Program Director Lisa Taft. “Because of her talents, we are now able to serve deaf individuals, and enhance their lives, as we do for our other participants.”
And those participants are on the go! Carrie and her team members take 15 to 18 individuals out into the community to do all kinds of activities. They have “Dine Out Day,” when they go to a restaurant and practice ordering for themselves and managing money. They’ve also gone to the library, Red Rocks Amphitheater, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Denver Zoo, and much more.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Carrie said of her work. “I like the interaction with the participants. Sometimes, it can be challenging, but most of the time, it’s great. They like to go places and they want to be there with us. One of our participants even wrote that down in her own words.”
Carrie said she loves signing and is glad she can lend her skills to the program. “I think it helps open doors for more deaf people with I/DD.” She added that it’s important for people to understand that individuals with I/DD are just like everybody else. “And you should treat them that way. My philosophy is to look at them as a person first, rather than focusing on their disability.”
Several participants in the Day Program have taken an interest in learning sign language since Carrie’s been there. She’s teaching them so they, too, can communicate with their deaf peers.
“Carrie has strengthened our team and our program immensely. We are lucky to have her with us!” Lisa said.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning how you can receive support from Dungarvin in your state, please visit us at www.Dungarvin.com.