Special Needs

People with special needs are people who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services beyond those required by people generally.

In public health terms, people with special health care needs are considered a vulnerable population, since they have a shorter life expectancy, are more likely to engage in dangerous or risky behaviors and are often isolated from a system of support.

Children With Special Healthcare Needs Issue Brief

View the Children With Special Healthcare Needs Issue Brief

 

Rhode Island Medical Home Portal

The Medical Home Portal is a unique source of reliable information about children and youth with special health care needs, offering a “one-stop shop” for their families, physicians and medical home teams, and other professionals and caregivers. For more information on the Rhode Island Medical Home Portal, you can watch this short video and check out the Medical Home Portal brochure.

 

Rhode Island Medical Home Portal

What You Need to Know

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) affect how the brain functions.

Dare To Dream Initiative

Dare to Dream (D2D) is a learning pathway for youth with special healthcare needs and diverse learners in grades eight through high school and those in transition to adulthood programs.

Medical Protective Status

Rhode Islanders who rely on life-sustaining medical equipment such as breathing machines or dialysis equipment are eligible to apply for "medical protective status" from their utility companies…

Youth Advisory Council

The Youth Advisory Council is comprised of youth and young adults who have demonstrated leadership through their involvement with Dare to Dream or…

Information For

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Information For Healthcare Providers Of Children With Special Needs

Learn more about Medical Homes, adolescent healthcare transition, and the Medical Home Portal.

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Information For Parents Of Children With Special Needs

Raising children is a demanding and on-going job. When your child has special needs those duties become more complicated and demanding.

We can help you. . .

Regulations

Regulations

Partners

Disability SERVICES

Accessible Rhode Island Guide Aging and Disabilities Resource Center: THE POINT Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department of Human Services Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals Developmental Disabilities Council Disability Determination Process Governor's Advisory Council for the Blind Governor's Commission on Disabilities Rehabilitation Council RI Council on Assistive Technology RI Council of Community Mental Health Organizations RIde Paratransit Service RI Relay State Independent Living Council State Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Commission on Disabilities RI Disability Law Center Court Access for Individuals with Disabilities

Disability Organizations

Advocacy in Action Aids Project RI ALS Association RI Chapter Autism Project of RI Blackstone Valley Chapter ARC Brain Injury Association of RI Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Corliss Community Down Syndrome Society of RI Epilepsy Foundation of Mass. and RI Family Voices Kent County ARC (J. Arthur Trudeau Center) Learning Disabilities National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of RI Mental Health Association of Rhode Island MS Dreamcenter National Multiple Sclerosis Society, RI Chapter Parent Support Network of Rhode Island Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities RI Association of the Deaf RI Assistive Technology RI Disability Law Center RI Parent Information Network Self Help for Hard of Hearing People United Cerebral Palsy of RI

Resources

Issue or Policy Briefs

Reports | Annual

Guidances, Recommendations

Guidances, Recommendations | Resource

Checklists

Plans (Strategic, Action, State)

Policy, Protocols, Requirements

Brochures

Forms | Plan

Instructions, Manuals, Procedures

Reports | Program

Forms | Medical

Frequently Asked Questions

Forms | Enrollment

Booklets

Posters

Reports | Plan

Lists | Resource

External Resources

Guidances, Recommendations

Presentations

Reports

Research

Web Pages