WORKERS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Rhode Island Contacts

State Agency Responsible for Providing Services to People with Developmental Disabilities

The Division of Developmental Disabilities, Department of behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals is responsible for planning, providing, and administering supports for adults in Rhode Island with developmental disabilities and their families by safeguarding the well-being of people with developmental disabilities and protecting them from abuse, neglect and mistreatment; ensuring equitable access to, and allocation of available resources; and enhancing the quality of support so that people with disabilities can identify and move toward personal futures of inclusion and participation in community life. For information on who is eligible for services or for more information about the services provided call or write:

Division of Developmental Disabilities
14 Harrington Road
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
Phone: 401-462-3234
Fax: 401-462-6189

State Agency Responsible for Overseeing Employment Opportunities for People with Developmental Disabilities

The Office of Rehabilitation Services 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. The goal of this program is that "Employment being the successful outcome of services provided through the public vocational rehabilitation program." The eligible individual with a disability and a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor work together to develop an employment plan called the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). This plan considers the individual's unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, skills, abilities, preferences, capabilities, interests, and values, as well as the barriers to employment. To learn more about the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, write or call:

Office of Rehabilitation Services
Department of Human Services
40 Fountain Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Phone: 401-421-7005
TDD: 401-421-7016
Spanish: 401-272-8090
Fax: 401-222-3574

Competitive Employment

The Office of Rehabilitation Services is an active partner in collaborating with the Department of Mental Health, Retardation, and Hospitals and private, non-profit vendors of supported employment services to provide efficient and effective services leading to integrated, competitive employment. Individuals have a job with a community employer and receive periodic publicly funded assistance, training and support aimed at securing employment and/or improving job skills.

Office of Rehabilitation Services
Department of Human Services
40 Fountain Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Phone: 401-421-7005
TDD: 401-421-7016
Spanish: 401-272-8090
Fax: 401-222-3574

Health and Safety

Using a free consultation service largely funded by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers can find out about potential hazards at their worksites and improve their occupational safety and health management systems. Primarily targeted for smaller businesses, this safety and health consultation program is completely separate from the OSHA inspection effort.

OSH Consultation Program
Division of Occupational Health & Radiation Control
Rhode Island Department of Health
3 Capital Hill
Cannon Building, Room 206
Providence, Rhode Island 02908
Phone: 401-222-3118
Fax: 401-222-6953

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Rhode Island Area Office provides safety and health protections to most private sector workers and state and local government employees within the state. OSHA investigates complaints about workplace safety and health hazards.

Providence Area Office
OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor
Federal Office Building
380 Westminster Mall, Rm. 543
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Phone: 401-528-4669
Fax: 401-528-4663

Reporting Abuse and Neglect

People can report abuse, neglect, and exploitation of Rhode Island's vulnerable or incapacitated adults at the state's hotline: 401-462-2629 or 800-745-5555; Voice 800-745-6575.

Division of Developmental Disabilities
R.I. Dept. of Mental Health, Retardation, and Hospitals
14 Harrington Road
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
Phone: 401-462-2339
Fax: 401-462-6636

Protection and Advocacy

Another advocacy source is the Rhode Island Governor's Commission on Disabilities. The Commission's objective is to ensure that all people with disabilities are afforded the opportunities to exercise all the rights and responsibilities accorded to citizens of this state and each person with a disability is able to reach his/her maximum potential in independence, human development, productivity, and self-sufficiency.

Governor's Commission on Disabilities
John O. Pastore Center
41 Cherry Dale Court
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
Phone: 401-462-0100
Fax: 401-462-0106

The mission of the Rhode Island Disability Law Center is to assist people with differing abilities in their efforts to achieve full inclusion in society and to exercise their civil and human rights through the provision of legal advocacy. The Center 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.

Rhode Island Disability Law Center
275 Westminster Street, Suite 401
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Phone: 401-831-3150
TTY: 401-831-5335
Fax: 401-274-5568