Official State of Rhode Island website

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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

 

Family Voices Resource Guide

Family Voices created Connecting the Dots, a guide to help you find health, education and community resources for Rhode Island Families.

Download the guide: Family Voices Resource Guide

 

Family Voices Resource Guide

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

Reports | Annual

Guidances, Recommendations | Resource

Instructions, Manuals, Procedures

Forms | Medical