Transition and Employment Resources

RIPIN

RIPIN’s services include special education and supports, specialized services for children and young adults with disabilities, healthcare and health insurance and health education training, support and resources.

Rhode Island Department of Education – Transition Services 

RIDE is the state agency that oversees the elementary and secondary education system from pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. Visit this website to get basic information on transition in Special Education and related resources. 

Ocean State Center for Independent Living (OSCIL) – Youth Transition Services

OSCIL is one of two Independent Living Centers in Rhode Island. OSCIL, located in Warwick, provides information and referral, advocacy, assessment services and a range of other services designed to support independent living.  OSCIL helps to provide the necessary independent living skills and real life experience for self-directed youth ages 14-24 with disabilities to help them enter the post high school world successfully. 

National Parent Center on Transition and Employment (PACER) 

PACER’s site provides information on person-centered planning and resources on creating a successful plan.

Think College!

Think College provides resources and tools for students, families and professionals. This website shares what is currently available in college programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities, provides resources and strategies and informs about trainings and events. The information is for transition-aged students, as well as adults attending or planning for college. 

Adolescent health Transition Program 
This program of the Rhode Island Department of Health site provides families with publications and more to assist adolescents with disabilities transition and successfully transfer to the adult systems of health care, education, employment and insurance.
Oral Health Program https://health.ri.gov/programs/detail.php?pgm_id=23 
This program of the Rhode Island Department of Health site provides information on oral health programs for children in Rhode Island.

RI Medical Home Portal
A resource for professionals and families who care for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN).

Got Transition
Got Transition®, the national resource center on health care transition (HCT) aims to help youth and young adults move from pediatric to adult health care.

Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) Person Centered Tools 
This site includes tools for having conversations with individuals and families about a vision for a good life and how to achieve it. Youth and their families can use the tools to capture what is important to them, plan for transition, set a vision, or think about how to solve any problem in their life.

Person-Centered Planning: PATH, MAPS and Circles of Support 
The Inclusion Press website has information on two of the most common person-centered planning tools, MAPS and PATH and offers more detailed guidebooks for purchase.

ICI Community Life Engagement Toolkit 
This toolkit helps service providers develop and improve high quality supports for community life engagement (CLE).  In the toolkit, you will find guideposts for success, a self-assessment tool, real-world examples of service providers making CLE happen, and other helpful resources and tools.

RI Commission for Human Rights
The Commission on Human Rights enforces Rhode Island anti-discrimination laws in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, credit and delivery of services. The website has information on Rhode Island anti-discrimination laws, the Commission’s hearing process, and how to file a complaint.

Disability Rights Rhode Island
DRRI is the Official Protection and Advocacy System for Rhode Island.  DRRI provides free legal assistance to persons with disabilities. Services include individual representation to protect rights or to secure benefits and services; self-help information; educational programs; and administrative and legislative advocacy. The agency administers eight federally funded advocacy programs, each of which has its own eligibility criteria.
 

Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS) 
The ORS Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program is the public state and federally funded program that assists individuals with disabilities to choose, prepare for, obtain and maintain employment. Employment being the successful outcome of services provided through the public vocational rehabilitation program. It is expected that individuals with disabilities who apply for services are interested in becoming employed and understand that this is the focus of the VR program.

Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) – Division of Developmental Disabilities 
The Division of Developmental Disabilities is responsible for planning, funding and overseeing a community system of services and supports for adults with developmental disabilities. Below are some specific resources on their website related to funding. 

• Community First State 
• Licensed Provider List
• Transitioning to Adult Services
• RI Settlement Agreement and Consent Decree 
• Self-Directed Supports

Back to Work RI
Back to Work RI partners with employers to ensure Rhode Islanders get the skills they need to secure well-paying jobs in growing industries.

Employment First for All (APSE)
APSE is a national organization that seeks to improve and expand integrated employment opportunities, services, and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

Employment First for All (APSE) Rhode Island Chapter
RI APSE is a local chapter of APSE that is focused on integrated employment and career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

EMPLOYRI
EmployRI is the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training's online job-matching service. Visit the site to find the DLT Career Center in your area.  

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
JAN provides worksite accommodation solutions, technical assistance on disability policy legislation, and information about self-employment options.

Rhode Island Governor’s Workforce Board
The Governor’s Workforce Board is Rhode Island’s primary policy-making body on workforce development matters. It helps Rhode Islanders find a job and build a career, while helping employers meet their demand for talent.

Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) 
JAN's Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) system is designed to let users explore various accommodation options for people with disabilities in work and educational settings. 

Think Work Stories
Think Work Stories is a series of employment success stories on subjects such as career planning, job supports, job matching, job negotiation, family support, and funding.

ABLE National Resource Center

The ABLE National Resource Center provides independent information about federal and state-related ABLE programs and activities, including guidance on tax-advantaged ABLE savings accounts.

RI's Able

Achieving Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts help individuals save while preserving their SSI and Medicaid. RI’s ABLE website provides Information on setting up an ABLE account.

Work Incentives Benefits Counseling 

Center for Women & Enterprise
The Center for Women & Enterprise is a non-profit organization that helps women in Massachusetts and Rhode Island to start and grow their own businesses. The Center partners with the RI Developmental Disabilities Council to offer classes in small business development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Griffin-Hammis Associates – Self-Employment 
Griffin-Hammis, Associates are pioneers in the field of customized employment. The website contains articles and stories about customized employment.

RI Developmental Disabilities Council – Self-Employment Business Program 
The DD Council is a source of information and resources on a variety of topics such as self-employment, legislation, self-determination, and advocacy. On the site you will find a directory of businesses that have taken part in the Self-Employment Program.

RI Small Business Development Center 
The center provides small business owners in Rhode Island with the services and expertise they need to succeed, including free, expert counseling, relevant training and access to important resources.

AAC Learning Center
The AAC Learning Center hosts a wide variety of webcasts (recordings) by AAC researchers, and co-presentations with people who use AAC.

Adaptive Telephone Equipment Loan Program (ATEL) – Office of Rehabilitation Services
The Rhode Island Adaptive Telephone Equipment Loan (ATEL) Program provides landline/home telephones and wireless devices on loan to qualified individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, have a speech disability, or have neuromuscular damage or disease that hinders them from using a standard telephone. The ATEL Program offers a Hearing and Speech Lab which will offer iPad/iPhone training and have the following devices available for FREE demonstrations, as well as, many devices available for short term loans.

East Bay Educational Collaborative – Accessible Resources 
The East Bay Educational Collaborative, a partner of the Assistive Technology Access Partnership (ATAP), lends assistive technology devices to "try before you buy." Training and demonstrations are available for educators, families, professionals and students.  

Ocean State Center for Independent Living – Assistive Technology, Equipment & Home Modifications Program
OSCIL, a partner of the Assistive Technology Access Partnership (ATAP), works with individuals to acquire appropriate devices and provide training on the use of those devices to enhance the individual’s independence within their home and community.

Rhode Island Assistive Technology Access Partnership (ATAP)  

The Rhode Island Assistive Technology Access Partnership (ATAP) is designed as a statewide partnership of organizations, each with a targeted assistive technology focus, working together to improve access to and acquisition of assistive technology for individuals with disabilities.

TechACCESS of Rhode Island
TechACCESS of Rhode Island was founded in 1991 to provide assistive technology services to people with disabilities.  TechACCESSprovides information, referrals, demonstrations, and technical assistance to individuals with questions regarding assistive technology. They also coordinate a library of informational resources and provide demonstrations of assistive technology.
 

RI Public Transit Authority (RIPTA)
The RIPTA website provides information on public bus schedules and maps, passes and fares, and other transportation resources. 
 

Those unable to travel on the RIPTA fixed route bus service because of a disability may be eligible to use the RIde Program, a paratransit bus service that allows riders to schedule the specific bus rides they need instead of following a fixed route bus schedule and share a bus ride with other people who are traveling to a similar location and time.
 

211 United Way 
211 can connect you with housing, food, affordable childcare, and much more.

HealthSource RI
The RI Department of Human Services partners with HealthSource RI to enroll individuals and families in healthcare and health and human service programs. Information on employer resources is also available.

RI Department of Human Services
DHS offers information on supports for individuals and families, including heat assistance, SNAP, cash assistance, etc. You can apply online for many available benefits.