Focus Areas

Disability Rights Rhode Island is a Protection and Advocacy agency (P&A), designated under federal law to protect and advocate for the legal rights of Rhode Islanders with disabilities. There is a P&A in every state, U.S. territory, and the District of Columbia.

Our Focus Areas determine the individual cases we can consider, as well as the systemic projects we pursue. We seek community feedback on our Focus Areas annually and revise them, as necessary and appropriate, every three years.

Systemic Focus Areas

At DRRI, we focus on systemic projects that address issues impacting individuals with disabilities.

Behavioral Healthcare for Prisoners with Mental Illness

We work to improve behavioral healthcare for prisoners with mental illness, aiming to eliminate the use of solitary confinement.

Supported Decision-Making

We educate and train individuals, families, educators, advocates, the judiciary, and governmental personnel about the importance of Supported Decision-Making (SDM), which helps people with disabilities retain authority over decisions in their own lives.

Services and Supports for Community Living

We focus on helping people with disabilities live in their communities rather than in hospitals or institutions. This includes affordable housing, jobs, and transportation.

Our systemic advocacy aims to increase the availability of, and access to, community-based supports and services. These include access to affordable and community-based residential living, competitive integrated employment, and transportation.

Safeguarding Social Security Beneficiaries

We safeguard the legal rights of Social Security beneficiaries whose benefits are paid to and managed by representative payees, based on referrals by the Social Security Administration. We ensure that these individuals are treated fairly, and their legal rights are protected.

Voting Rights and Access

We aim to advance full participation of people with disabilities in the electoral process. Our work ensures that individuals with disabilities can access the voting process without barriers, fostering inclusion in civic life.

Investigations and Monitoring

We investigate reports of abuse and neglect and monitor for potential abuse and neglect in residential, psychiatric, healthcare, and other facilities that serve people with disabilities.

Outreach and Training

We provide outreach and training related to our systemic and legal representation focus areas, as limited resources allow.

Legal Case Representation Focus Areas

DRRI accepts individual cases that align with our legal case representation focus areas.

Safety and Guardianship

We investigate reports of abuse and neglect in a wide range of settings, including residential facilities, schools, healthcare institutions, and other environments where individuals with disabilities live and receive care. When necessary, we take legal action to protect victims of abuse and neglect.

We also represent individuals challenging guardianship matters, addressing issues such as the necessity, scope, or appointment of a guardian. We support less restrictive decision-making alternatives, such as Supported Decision-Making.

Supported Decision-Making

Assistive Technology

We represent individuals who face denials or delays in getting assistive technology devices or services from public funding sources such as Medicare, Medicaid, school districts, and vocational rehabilitation programs. Our goal is to ensure that people with disabilities have timely access to the assistive technology they need.

Employment

We advocate for individuals who have been denied or delayed access to vocational rehabilitation, employment network services, or independent living services. We also represent individuals who are denied reasonable accommodations necessary to obtain, maintain, or advance in employment.

Additionally, we support Social Security beneficiaries facing workplace discrimination or encountering barriers related to work incentives and other employment-related Social Security issues.

Residential and Community-Based Services

We represent individuals who remain in hospitals or other restrictive environments due to a shortage of appropriate community-based alternatives. We also assist people who are denied reasonable accommodations or experience discrimination in residential settings. Our advocacy includes representing individuals who are denied eligibility for intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) services.

Government and Public Accommodations

We advocate for individuals who are denied physical accessibility, policy modifications, or communication aids and services by state or local governments. We also represent individuals denied these accommodations by testing services or health care providers. In addition, we work to ensure full participation of people with disabilities in the electoral process by advocating for equal access to voting.