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
Legislative Session Dashboard
Learn more about some of our priority bills this Legislative Session, with resources to take action!
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
May 02, 2025
Cannabis Use for Terminally Ill Patients (H 5630, S 847)
Status:
Held for Further Study
Position:
Support
Apr 15, 2025
Protections for Individuals with Disabilities (H 6122, S 887)
Status:
Signed into Law
Position:
Support and Amend
Jun 12, 2024
Non-Consensual Patient Research (H 7301, S 2394)
Status:
Signed into Law
Position:
Amend
Apr 28, 2023
School Resource Officer Funding (H 5628, H 6149)
We opposed two pieces of legislation which would have indefinitely extended the reimbursement structure that had previously existed for SROs, incentivizing schools to continue to hire personnel who are not adequately trained in youth mental and behavioral health, such as SROs.
Status:
Died in Committee
Position:
Oppose
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