Disability Rights
We actively work for a Rhode Island where people with disabilities have full and equitable access to education, health care, employment, voting access, and other types of civic engagement. We are also committed to ensuring that people with disabilities are treated fairly in regards to the criminal legal system.
Explore our work to protect disability rights in Rhode Island.
The Latest
Advocates Respond to State/DOJ Consent Decree Addressing Services to Certain Children with Behavioral Health Disabilities
Last month, in response to years of glaring failures in Rhode Island’s behavioral health system for children and youth, Disability Rights Rhode Island, the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, and Children’s Rights filed a class action lawsuit against the State
Advocates Sue the State of Rhode Island Over Failure to Provide Mental Health Care for Medicaid-Eligible Children
Following years of glaring failures in Rhode Island’s behavioral health system for children and youth, Disability Rights Rhode Island, the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, and Children’s Rights today filed a class action lawsuit against the State for denying Medicaid-eligible children and youth their right to appropriate mental health care.
Letter to Department of Education Calls for Immediate Action to Address Providence School Bus Transportation Fiasco
Responding to a “catastrophic” failure of school transportation services in Providence that left many students with disabilities stranded in getting to or from school last week, the ACLU of Rhode Island, joined by the R.I. Center for Justice, today sent a letter to state Dept. of Education.
Cases, Campaigns & Legislation
Oct 22, 2025
Parente v. Lefebvre
This "friend of the court" brief was submitted to challenge the RI Attorney General's position that state officials are immune from ever being sued in federal court under one of RI’s key anti-discrimination civil rights statutes.
Jul 17, 2023
Parents Leading for Educational Equity v. Providence Public School Department
Citing “systemic failures to comply with federal law,” cooperating attorneys for the ACLU of Rhode Island and the R.I. Center for Justice have today filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the Providence school district and the R.I. Department of Education
Feb 16, 2023
AD v. Bristol-Warren School District
A complaint filed against the Bristol-Warren School District on behalf of a six-year-old child who, the complaint alleges, for months has not been given the free and appropriate education (FAPE) to which he is clearly entitled due to his serious special education needs.
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