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.

(This article was updated Sept. 29 to include details for accessing two online rate review sessions. )

Rhode Islanders with developmental disabilities who have received supported employment services over the last six years, their families and the professionals who support them are invited to share their experiences Sept. 29 in an online “community conversation” intended to help shape job-related supports in the future.

The Rhode Island Chapter of the Association of People Supporting Employment First (RI APSE) will host the meeting with the aim of highlighting the successful strategies of pilot programs funded by the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) over the last six years in the hope of informing the next wave of job-related services.

The session has the support of a federal court monitor who seeks to promote compliance with a 2014 consent decree requiring the state to help find competitive employment in the community for adults with developmental disabilities.

The meeting, at noon on Thursday, will be facilitated by Jeannine Pavlak, a board member of the Massachusetts Chapter of APSE who has 32 years’ experience providing supported employment services to people with disabilities.

Pre-registration is required for the session. To pre-register, click here.

Reminder: DD Rate Review Recommendations To Be Aired

Meanwhile, on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29, consultants will make two presentations of preliminary recommendations for new reimbursement rates for private providers of developmental disability services that are intended to help the state comply with the consent decree. No pre-registration is required for these online sessions.

The first, with technical details aimed at providers, is on Sept. 28 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. To join, click here. Update: There is a meeting passcode and it is 186251, according to a BHDDH spokesman.

The second, for consumers, families and the community, is Sept. 29 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. To join, click here. (The link allows listeners to join using internet audio and also gives two other options for access. )

Interested stakeholders will have until October 21, 2022 to submit comments. Recordings, materials, and instructions for submitting comments will be posted after September 29 on the website of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. To go there, click https://bhddh.ri.gov/developmental-disabilities/initiatives/rateand-payment-methodology-review-project.