Local Support Groups, Disability/Diag

RIPIN helps Rhode Islanders of all ages and abilities access health care, health insurance coverage, education services and supports, care management, and more.

• Live answer call center Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. After hours calls returned within two business days
• Care coordination and service linkage for families with children with special health care needs
• Help health care and health insurance, including Healthsource RI, Medicaid, Medicare, and more, regardless of your coverage status
• Help accessing and navigating special education
• Help navigating transition to adult services for young adults with special needs
• Support groups for parents and caregivers

RIPIN uses a peer support model, meaning our team of Certified Community Health Workers are themselves parents or caregivers to a loved one with special needs. Our Peer Professionals’ lived experience helps them better understand you and your family’s needs.

• Child & Family Support link
• Prevent Child Abuse Chapter link
• Family Support for Substance Use link
• Fatherhood Initiative link
• Peer Recovery & Outreach link
• Workforce Development link
• Youth Leadership and Support group Youth Speaking Out

Workshops and Training's
Peer to Peer systems navigation support
Support Groups 

We are  a group of parents, family members, transition age youth,  and adults with behavioral health lived experience who are committed to supporting and assisting peers and working with statewide and national partners to empower children, youth, families and individuals through dynamic supports, education, and advocacy to prevent abuse and neglect, reduce disparities, and progress towards universal health, wellness, and recovery.

Our major programs are the Children's and Adolescent Program, Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Outpatient Program and the Bradley School.

Children's and Adolescent outpatient services. A multidisciplinary staff of board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and qualified trainees provides treatment using a variety of modalities including individual, group and family therapy, and psychopharmacologic management.

https://www.lifespan.org/centers-services/bradley-outpatient-services

Children's and Adolescent inpatient services for children ages 2 to 18 years who suffer from serious disorders and are in need of short-term stabilization assessment and treatment.

https://www.lifespan.org/centers-services/child-adolescent-inpatient-program-bradley-hospital 


The Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities CADD offers unique and highly specialized clinical services for children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 18 who show signs of serious emotional and behavioral problems in addition to a developmental disability, such as autism, Asperger's or intellectual disability.  
https://www.lifespan.org/centers-services/center-autism-and-developmental-disabilities-cadd

The Intensive Program for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

https://www.lifespan.org/centers-services/intensive-program-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

Communication, Occupational and Sensory Treatment (COAST) Clinic offers comprehensive evaluation and treatment for children and adolescents who have difficulty participating in age-appropriate activities due to physical, neurological, cognitive, behavioral, communication or sensory processing challenges.

https://www.lifespan.org/centers-services/coast-clinic

Resources for Parents [https://www.bradleyhospital.org/resources-parents]

Parent's Guide to Mental Health https://www.bradleyhospital.org/sites/default/files/lifespan-files/documents/hospital-sites/bradley/bradl-servi-guide-55152-mentalhealthguide-web.pdf 

Bradley Hospital offers a wide range of programs, services and research for psychological, developmental and behavioral conditions in children and adolescents. Bradley Hospital is dedicated to patient- and family-centered mental health care. A Lifespan partner and a teaching hospital for The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Bradley Hospital has established itself as the national center for training and research in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Bradley School. Lifespan School Solutions, a subsidiary of Bradley Hospital, is the parent corporation of the Bradley Schools, a private, school-funded, educational program for children and adolescents whose psychiatric and behavioral needs cannot be met in a public school setting and are in a separate listing.

The Rhode Island Chapter of CHADD welcomes the ADHD community from Parents of children with ADHD, to Adults with ADHD and Area ADHD Professionals .

Programs are held on the FIRST WEDNESDAY of every month at 7 pm from September to June, Virtually via Zoom. 

Location: Zoom. The ZOOM LINK IS SENT VIA E-MAIL . 

Pre Co-vid we met in the Pine Room of Bradley Hospital in East Providence.    

Next Programs:

The FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 7 PM VIA ZOOM .

SPEAKERS ON VARIOUS TOPICS RELATED TO ADHD ARE INVITED A FEW TIMES A YEAR.

The Asperger/Autism Network (AANE) provides individuals, families, and professionals with information, education, community, support, and advocacy

Online Support Groups link

AANE works with individuals, families, and professionals to help people with Asperger Syndrome or similar autism spectrum profiles build meaningful, connected lives. We do this by providing information, education, community, support, and advocacy--all in an atmosphere of validation and respect.

Services Provided:

• Technical assistance and training in the areas of Early Intervention Early Intervention, infant mental health and trauma-based care practices, inclusive practices in schools, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports in schools, learners with low incidence disabilities (vision, hearing, deaf-blindness) Dual Sensory, transition from high school , and community-based employment strategies for youth and adults.
• Services include:
o Instruction and mobility services to children who are blind or visually impaired.
o Educational Advocates for students with disabilities who are in state care.
o Benefits counseling and assistance for Social Security beneficiaries.
o Family support and navigation of services.
o Support group for self-directed support users (DDD)
o Plan writing for self-directed support users (DDD).
o Support for parents with intellectual disabilities.
o Support to students in post-secondary education.

Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities, founded at Rhode Island College in 1993, is a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). UCEDDs are evidence driven and designed to advance policies, practices, and research that improve the health, education, social, and economic well-being of people with disabilities, their families, and their communities. There are 67 UCEDD programs in the United States. This national network is administered through the United States Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Developmental Disabilities.
The Sherlock Center partners with state and national agencies, schools, institutions of higher education and community providers to implement its core functions: preservice preparation, services (including technical assistance, community education, and direct services), research, and information dissemination. As of 2016, the Sherlock Center is a LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities) Program.
Areas of Emphasis:
Early Childhood and Education
Inclusion and Community Membership
Low Incidence Disabilities
Self-Determination
Transition, Employment and Adult Life
Workforce and Professional Development

• Professional Training Program, classroom and individual consultation
• Parent Education Series and Support
• Grandparent Support Groups
• Social Skill Groups
• Respite Information
• Summer Camp WANNAGOAGAIN
• Advocacy
• Instructional videos

The Autism Project is a ‘Hub of Hope’ that connects people—with a spectrum of needs—to the available resources and education that support independent and purposeful lives.
Autism Project
1516 Atwood Avenue
Johnston, RI 02919

Weekly classes are provided in the area of chair yoga, tai chi, reiki, exercise to music, and strength strengthening. Many of these classes are offered virtually due to Covid Pandemic. https://www.msdreamcenter.org/programs

Painting and Art enrichment classes

Hairstylist comes to center once a month to provide haircuts for a nominal fee.

Support groups

The MS Dream Center goal is to bring awareness to the disease and reach out to those living with it, empowering them and offering important respite opportunities for care partners.

Pediatric Low Vision Services and functional vision assessments.

Peer Support

Summer Camp

Insight Radio

Our mission is to inspire confidence, build skills and empower people who are blind and visually impaired to become fully integrated, equally valued members of society by providing diverse services that produce opportunities and choices.

Pediatric Low Vision Services
Children age birth to three years old are generally referred to this service through their early intervention case coordinator. Children over the age of three are generally referred to the program through their caseworker at Rhode Island State Services for the Blind.

INSIGHT Radio is a unique radio reading service that provides the daily reading of local and national newspapers, magazines, books, and other printed materials of interest to our listeners. We currently broadcast twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week.

• Resource Center
• Education and Training
• Family Programs and Support
• Peer Support Groups
• Camps link
• Camp Matty RI link

Epilepsy Foundation New England is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives. Epilepsy Foundation New England is an independent affiliate of Epilepsy Foundation of America; we serve the approximately 100,000 people in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island affected by epilepsy and the people who care for them. Our vision statement is Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow.

• Education and Training link
• Parents link
• Concussion Information link
• Getting Treatment link
• Support Groups link

On-Site Resource Center

MONDAY – FRIDAY 9:00 – 4:30
EVENINGS BY APPOINTMENT
PHONE: (401) 228-3319

The Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island is dedicated to increasing awareness of brain injury and its consequences, providing education to prevent brain injury, and enhancing the quality of life for those affected by brain injury.

The Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island, Inc. is a public, nonprofit corporation, tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and is a chartered affiliate of the Brain Injury Association of America.

RI Hands & Voices is a parent-driven organization committed to supporting families of children that are deaf or hard of hearing. We are non-biased about communication methodologies, and believe that families can make the best choices for their child if they have access to good information and support. 

Hands & Voices is a parent-driven organization that supports families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing without a bias around communication modes or methodology.

Rare Connections Support groups link

 Virtual Patient & Caregiver Support Groups to provide opportunities for adult patients and for caregivers to come together and share their experiences with others facing similar challenges. 

Rare New England's mission is to bring together New England patients, families and providers touched by rare and complex disorders. We offer educational opportunities, create awareness of available resources,
and build foundations for support to improve patient quality of life. 

A voluntary health agency that works to combat muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and related muscle-debilitating diseases. The organization is committed to finding treatments and cures while providing a comprehensive program to empower families with support to help them thrive and stay independent including summer camps for kids, peer support, equipment resources and more. Related volunteer opportunities available.COVID-19 Update: following all CDC and state guidelines.

• Voluntary Health Organizations
• Assistive Technology Expense Assistance
• Health/Disabilities Related Volunteer Opportunities
• Therapeutic Camps
• Health/Disability Related Support Groups

Kesem is a nationwide community, driven by passionate college student leaders, that supports children through and beyond their parent’s cancer. Offering innovative, fun-­filled programs that foster a lasting community, we aim to ensure that every child impacted by a parent’s cancer is never alone.

Camp locator on website

• Health/Disability Related Support Groups
• Disease/Disability Information

Nationwide community-based voluntary organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health risk through research, education, advocacy.

• Specialized Information and Referral
• Internet Information Resources
• Health/Disability Related Support Groups

Provides awareness for support, education and research.
Provides educational and emotional support, stimulates and support research designed to identify the cause and cure for scleroderma, and improve methods of treatment; and enhances the public's awareness of this disease.
Chapters and Support Groups may be located in Resources.

The mission of Recovery International is to use the cognitive-behavioral, peer-to-peer, self-help training system developed by Abraham Low, MD, to help individuals gain skills to lead more peaceful and productive lives.

Online Resources Include:

• Local meeting locator

United Spinal Association is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of all people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including veterans, and providing support and information to loved ones, care providers and professionals. Offers options to request assistance, connect with a mentor, connect with a chapter, advocacy, and product and service information.

Spinal Cord Resource Center: Submit questions on any aspect of Spinal Cord Injury/Disease or get information and resources that may help you resolve a situation including local support.

Disability Products & Services Guide: Search the United Spinal Association Disability Products & Services Directory to discover providers and organizations that specialize in optimizing the health, independence and quality of life of people with a spinal cord injury or disease.

• Health/Disability Related Support Groups
• Information and Referral
• Legislative Advocacy
• Self Advocacy Support