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Educational Advocacy

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Organizations that promote a particular practice like bilingual education, support the passage and enforcement of laws and other social measures that will result in specific types of educational reform or other improvements in the educational system, or support specific changes in local educational institutions that will improve the delivery of services to local students. (AIRS TD-1600.1770 Education Advocacy Groups)

Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN), Rhode Island Parent Information Network View on Map
300 Jefferson Blvd
Suite 300
Warwick, RI 02888
 Phone: 401-270-0101
Service Categories:
Organization Name: Rhode Island Parent Information Network
(Show others in Organization)
Address:
300 Jefferson Blvd
Suite 300
Warwick, RI 02888
Phone: 401-270-0101
Toll Free Phone: 855-747-3224
Fax: 401-270-7049
Service Categories:
Care Coordination/Case Management
Community Advocacy Organizations
Educational Advocacy
Family Advocacy
Family Support Services
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy
Local Support Groups, General
Medical Care Expense Assistance
Parent/Family Education
URL: http://www.ripin.org
Languages Spoken: Services available in English and Spanish
Eligibility: Statewide
Services Provided: Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN) provides:
• Live answer call center during business hours, return calls within two business days
• Care coordination and service linkage for families with children with special health care needs
• Support for families navigating the special education process for children with special needs through our Parent Training and Information Center [http://www.parentcenterhub.org/]
• Support for families navigating transition to adult services for young adults with special needs
• Support for families with children with special health care needs through our Cedar Family Center

• Connection to Family Voices and Family-to-Family information and peer support groups [http://www.familyvoices.org/]
• Help with access to health care and health insurance including Healthsource RI, Medicaid, Medicare, and more
Provider Profiles: Our mission is to assist individuals, parents, families, and children to achieve their goals for health, education, and socio-economic well-being by providing information, training, education, support and advocacy for person/family centered care and system change.

RIPIN’s staff are Certified Community Health Workers who have navigated health care and/or education systems for themselves or a loved one allowing for the inclusion of a peer perspective to our support to families.
Source: Rhode Island Dept of Health, Office of Special Needs
Last Updated: 11/7/2019
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Parent Support Network of RI (PSN), Parent Support Network of RI View on Map
535 Centerville Road, Suite 202
Warwick, RI 02886
 Phone: 401-467-6855
Service Categories:
Organization Name: Parent Support Network of RI
(Show others in Organization)
Address:
535 Centerville Road, Suite 202
Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: 401-467-6855
Toll Free Phone: 800-483-8844
Fax: 401-467-6903
Service Categories:
Care Coordination/Case Management
Child Advocacy
Disability Awareness Programs
Educational Advocacy
Family Support Services
Information & Referral Resources
Licensing & Regulation Organizations
Parent/Family Education
Youth Development
URL: http://www.psnri.org
Eligibility: Statewide
Services Provided: Workshops and Training's
Peer to Peer systems navigation support
Support Groups
Youth Group-Youth Speaking Out
Resource Center
Advocacy
Fatherhood Initiative and Support Group
Provider Profiles: Statewide: Parent Support Network of RI is an organization of families supporting families with children, youth and young adults who experience or at risk for serious behavioral health challenges.
We are a voice for the behavioral health of children, youth, siblings, and families. We believe we can and will make a difference through systems transformation so children and youth can live at home or in their community, receive effective services and supports that respect and consider their cultures and strengths, and respond to their individual and family needs.
Source: Rhode Island Dept of Health, Office of Special Needs
Last Updated: 10/24/2019
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PACE Parents Advocating & Collaborating in Education, PACE Parents Advocating & Collaborating in Education View on Map
RI
 Phone: 401-787-4479
Service Categories:
Organization Name: PACE Parents Advocating & Collaborating in Education
(Show others in Organization)
Address:
RI
Phone: 401-787-4479
Service Categories:
Educational Advocacy
Services Provided: PACE offers a variety of family driven services and supports including: phone consultations, in person meetings, record reviews, meeting preparation support and attendance at school meetings.
See Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/pobrienspecedadvocacy/]
Provider Profiles: Call PACE for a free phone consultation. Based on your family's needs, a plan will be developed with a PACE consultant.
Source: Rhode Island Dept of Health, Office of Special Needs
Last Updated: 12/31/2019
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Young Voices View on Map
P.O.Box 5853
Providence, RI 02903
 Phone: 508-212-8883
Service Categories:
Address:
P.O.Box 5853
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 508-212-8883
Service Categories:
Child Advocacy
Community Advocacy Organizations
Educational Advocacy
Mentoring Programs
Email: info@youngvoicesri.org
URL: http://www.youngvoicesri.org/
Eligibility: 14-19
Services Provided:

Programs

  • Leadership Transformation Academy
  • Student Advocacy 
  • Civic Leadership
Provider Profiles:

Young Voices is a Rhode Island-based non-profit organization that transforms urban youth into powerful advocates, who partner with our State’s major leaders to create systemic reform and policy change that improve the lives of thousands of youth across the state.
Source: Rhode Island Dept of Health, Office of Special Needs
Last Updated: 1/14/2021
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RI Special Education Advisory Committee ( RISEAC), RI Department of Education View on Map
Office of Student, Community and Academic Supports
255 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
 Phone: 401-222-8341
Service Categories:
Organization Name: RI Department of Education
(Show others in Organization)
Address:
Office of Student, Community and Academic Supports
255 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-222-8341
Fax: 401-222-6030
Service Categories:
Educational Advocacy
Licensing & Regulation Organizations
Special Education/Schools
Vocational Education
URL: http://www.ride.ri.gov/StudentsFamilies/SpecialEducation/AdvisoryCommittees.aspx
Eligibility: Membership of the committee is composed of individuals involved in or concerned with the education of children with disabilities. Parents of children with disabilities maintain the majority of the Committee membership. The membership also includes individuals with disabilities, teachers, representatives of institutions of higher education, private schools, charter schools, state and local education officials, administrators of programs for children with disabilities, foster care and homelessness, vocational, community or business organizations, juvenile and adult corrections and State Child Serving Agencies.
Services Provided:
  • The Rhode Island Special Education Advisory Committee advises the
    Commissioner and the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary
    Education on:
  • Matters concerning the unmet special education needs of children with disabilities;
  • Comments publicly on any rules or regulations proposed by the State regarding the education of children with disabilities;
  • Advises the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) in developing evaluations and reporting on data;
  • Advises RIDE in developing corrective action plans to address findings identified in Federal monitoring reports under Part B of the IDEA; and
  • Advises RIDE in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities.
Provider Profiles:

The Rhode Island Special Education Advisory Committee is an active voice in advocating that all students receive superior educational services enabling each student to achieve optimum success throughout their school years and into the world of adulthood.

  • RISEAC meeting agendas and minutes are posted on the SOS website: Rhode Island Secretary of State. Meetings are open to the public. Individuals who need accommodations to enable participation in a meeting are invited to submit such requests two weeks prior to the meeting date by contacting Karen. Lovett at karen.lovett@ride.ri.gov or at (401) 222-8333.


Local Special Education Advisory Committees function and operate similar to the State Advisory Committee with similar membership and purpose at a district level.
Contact the school district’s Director of Special Education for information regarding the Local Special Education Advisory Council.
Source: Rhode Island Dept of Health, Office of Special Needs
Last Updated: 3/5/2021
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Mary Lou Kennedy Rossi, M. Ed., Independent Educational Advocate
Charlestown, RI 02813
 Phone: 401-364-9364
Service Categories:
Organization Name: Independent Educational Advocate
(Show others in Organization)
Address:
Charlestown, RI 02813
Phone: 401-364-9364
Service Categories:
Educational Advocacy
Email: mlkennedyrossi@gmail.com
Services Provided:

Mary Lou is very passionate about the work of advocating for children and helping families navigate the Special Education world. Her specialty is collaborating with families and districts to address students' needs through respectful dialogue and interactions. She is able to understand the role of each member of the team and successfully overcomes barriers in communication. 
Provider Profiles:

Mary Lou has had over 30 years experience in education.  Graduating from the University of Rhode Island (1988) with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and Social Sciences, Master's Degree in Special Education (1994) and Principal Residency Network with Certification as a Building Administrator. She has sat in every seat at the special education table from parent to  special educator, classroom teacher, principal, team chairperson, and special educational advocate.  In addition to her advocacy work, Mary Lou is also a part-time faculty at the University of Rhode Island in the School of Education.
Source: Rhode Island Suggest Provider Queue
Last Updated: 2/23/2021
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AHEAD: Association of Higher Education and Disability View on Map
107 Commerce Centre Drive, Suite 204
Huntersville, NC 28078
 Phone: 704-947-7779
Service Categories:
Address:
107 Commerce Centre Drive, Suite 204
Huntersville, NC 28078
Phone: 704-947-7779
Fax: 704-948-7779
Service Categories:
College Disability Centers
Educational Advocacy
Specialized Information Resources
Student Disability Services
URL: https://www.ahead.org
Services Provided:

Committed to full participation of persons with disabilities in post-secondary education. Website resources include civil rights, legal resources, DSS professionals.
Provider Profiles:

Affiliate programs Utah AHEAD, New Mexico AHEAD
Source: MHP-Nationwide
Last Updated: 12/11/2020
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Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) View on Map
P.O. Box 6767
Towson, MD 21285
 Phone: 844-426-7224
Service Categories:
Address:
P.O. Box 6767
Towson, MD 21285
Phone: 844-426-7224
Fax: 410-372-0209
Service Categories:
Educational Advocacy
Legal Services, General
URL: https://www.copaa.org/
Services Provided:

The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA) is an independent, nonprofit, §501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization of attorneys, advocates, parents and related professionals. COPAA focuses on the rights of children who receive special education services and supports, and who are eligible to be served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other statutes. This includes working to ensure that children with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). COPAA endeavors to improve the quality and quantity of legal assistance for parents of children with disabilities. COPAA does not represent individual parents but provides a network to assist, train, and inform advocates, attorneys, parents, and related professionals.

Member Search: Parents who are looking to find a special education attorney, a special education advocate, or a related professional may look up referrals in the COPAA Member Directory. This directory is to serve as a resource for members and the public to find attorneys, advocates and other professional who belong to COPAA and advocate on behalf of children with disabilities.
Source: Nationwide Suggest Providers Queue
Last Updated: 10/30/2020
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