OLMSTEAD UPDATES

News blog follows implementation of landmark 2014 federal consent decree that requires Rhode Island to remedy violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the U.S. Supreme Court's Olmstead decision. Over ten years, Rhode Island must reinvent state services for citizens with developmental disabilities to give them opportunities for supportive employment and meaningful activities in their communities.

By Gina Macris

Rhode Islanders using adult developmental disability services and their families will have a chance to weigh in on the qualities they would most like to see in the state’s next Director of Developmental Disabilities at a “listening session” Wednesday, Oct. 5 at the Rhode Island Public Information Network (RIPIN) in Cranston.

Participants also will be asked to identify high-priority issues the new director should address immediately.

The meeting will be hosted by RIPIN and the state Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals.

The session will begin at 5 p.m. in the RIPIN offices at 1210 Pontiac Ave., Cranston. There will be reserved seating, because of limited space, according to a RIPIN statement.

Seats may be reserved by contacting Sharon Kochan at skochan@ripin.org or 401-270-0101 ext. 172 , according to the statement.

The public also may send comments by email about the most important qualities in the new director to BHDDH.askDD@bhddh.ri.gov. The application period for the director's post runs until Oct. 28.