The Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council is a federally mandated and funded agency of state government in Rhode Island. Promoting the ideas that will enhance the lives of people with developmental disabilities is one of the Council’s missions. Under our federal enabling legislation we must stay abreast of and share information about new programs and services and important issues, trends and ideas that are of concern to people with developmental disabilities, families, service agencies, business and community leaders, legislators and policy makers. In this sense our web site connects people with the information they need to make positive changes in their lives or to develop a frame of reference for decision making.

http://www.riddc.org/

The R.I. Governor's Commission on the Handicapped is dedicated to assuring that people with disabilities are afforded the opportunity to exercise all of the rights and responsibilities accorded to citizens of the state. The Commission coordinates compliance with federal and state laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities by state agencies. The Commission also provides technical assistance to public and private agencies, businesses and employers, to assist with compliance with state and federal disability regulations. More than 167,000 people with disabilities live in Rhode Island. Employers and businesses would benefit greatly by opening their doors to this untapped source of labor and revenues. The Commission strives to help open those doors by offering numerous free services that can aid businesses and organizations comply with accessibility regulations.

Free services offered by the Commission include:

• Surveys to identify and eliminate barriers in stores, homes, apartments, schools and work places
• Training on disability rights in employment and public accommodations
• Mediation to help resolve disability discrimination complaints relating to employment or customer services
• Referral to businesses and agencies that can help with compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Surveys of schools and training of school staff to improve accessibility
• Publications and videos on the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability related issues
• The commission also handles complaints again state agencies for discrimination in services or employment and helps remove structural barriers at state buildings, parks and beaches

http://www.gcd.state.ri.us/

ATAP, the Rhode Island Assistive Technology Act Project (P.L. 105-394) is designed as a statewide partnership of organizations and agencies, each with a targeted assistive technology focus, working together providing information and improving access to assistive technology for individuals with disabilities.

ATAP works closely with other state projects related to national and regional advocacy for assistive technology access.

http://www.atap.state.ri.us

Downloadable 5-Page Pdf File on "Disaster Planning for Elderly and Disabled Populations" from the University of Florida.

http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu/PDFS/CHAP02/D02-09.PDF

711- Telecommunications Relay Service

There is no user fee to use 711.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted use of the 711 dialing code for access to Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS).

TRS permits persons with a hearing or speech disability to use the telephone system via a text telephone (TTY) or other device to call persons with or without such disabilities.

Don’t Hang Up!

Some people hang up on TRS calls because they think the CA is a telemarketer. If you hear, "Hello. This is the relay service…” when you pick up the phone, please don’t hang up! You are about to talk, through a TRS provider, to a person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, or has a speech disability.

Click here for more information on 711.