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)

Service Legend
Local Service
Statewide Service: Provides online resources, telehealth, or service at a satellite office.
Nationwide Service: Provides online resources, telehealth or services at a regional/national headquarters location.
Statewide Provider
300 Jefferson Blvd, Suite 300
Warwick, RI 02888
Phone: 401-270-0101
Statewide Provider
Organization Name: Rhode Island Parent Information Network
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Address:
300 Jefferson Blvd, Suite 300
Warwick, RI 02888
Phone: 401-270-0101
Toll Free Phone: 855-747-3224
Fax: 401-270-7049
Email: info@ripin.org
Languages Spoken: Services available in English and Spanish
Eligibility:

Statewide

Services Provided:

RIPIN helps Rhode Islanders of all ages and abilities access health care, health insurance coverage, education services and supports, care management, and more.

  • Live answer call center Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. After hours calls returned within two business days
  • Care coordination and service linkage for families with children with special health care needs
  • Help health care and health insurance, including Healthsource RI, Medicaid, Medicare, and more, regardless of your coverage status
  • Help accessing and navigating special education
  • Help navigating transition to adult services for young adults with special needs
  • Support groups for parents and caregivers

 

Provider Profiles:

RIPIN uses a peer support model, meaning our team of Certified Community Health Workers are themselves parents or caregivers to a loved one with special needs. Our Peer Professionals’ lived experience helps them better understand you and your family’s needs.

Source: Rhode Island Dept of Health, Office of Special Needs
Last Updated: 7/22/2021
Statewide Provider
535 Centerville Road, Suite 202
Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: 401-467-6855
Statewide Provider
Organization Name: Parent Support Network of RI
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Address:
535 Centerville Road, Suite 202
Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: 401-467-6855
Toll Free Phone: 800-483-8844
Fax: 401-467-6903
Services Provided:
  • Child & Family Support link
  • Prevent Child Abuse Chapter link
  • Family Support for Substance Use link
  • Fatherhood Initiative link
  • Peer Recovery & Outreach link
  • Workforce Development link
  • Youth Leadership and Support group Youth Speaking Out

Workshops and Training's
Peer to Peer systems navigation support
Support Groups 

Provider Profiles:

We are  a group of parents, family members, transition age youth,  and adults with behavioral health lived experience who are committed to supporting and assisting peers and working with statewide and national partners to empower children, youth, families and individuals through dynamic supports, education, and advocacy to prevent abuse and neglect, reduce disparities, and progress towards universal health, wellness, and recovery.

Source: Rhode Island Dept of Health, Office of Special Needs
Last Updated: 4/19/2021
Young Voices View on Map
204 Westminster Street, Ste 2A
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-214-8218
Address:
204 Westminster Street, Ste 2A
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-214-8218
Email: info@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: 8/3/2022
Office of Student, Community and Academic Supports
255 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-222-8341
Organization Name: RI Department of Education
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Address:
Office of Student, Community and Academic Supports
255 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-222-8341
Fax: 401-222-6030
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 StateMeetings 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: 4/11/2022
Statewide Provider
Charlestown, RI 02813
Phone: 401-364-9364
Statewide Provider
Organization Name: Independent Educational Advocate
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Address:
Charlestown, RI 02813
Phone: 401-364-9364
Service Categories:
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: 3/6/2023
The Schrafft Center, 529 Main Street, Suite 1M3
Boston, MA 02129
Phone: 617-236-7210
Organization Name: Federation for Children with Special Needs
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Address:
The Schrafft Center, 529 Main Street, Suite 1M3
Boston, MA 02129
Phone: 617-236-7210
Toll Free Phone: 800-331-0688
Email: fcsninfo@fcsn.org
Languages Spoken: Multiple language line options
Eligibility:

Massachusetts residents

Services Provided:
  • 1:1 support for Massachusetts families with special education questions link
  • Training and workshops link
  • Family Leadership Development link
Provider Profiles:

The Federation empowers families so that they have the information and resources they need for their children. We work with families with children from birth to adulthood, providing individual assistance, training, and leadership development and support. We focus on education, early intervention, health care, transitions, children in foster care and group homes, and building strong family engagement to support all children, especially those children with disabilities, those at risk, and those with economic, cultural or linguistic barriers.

Source: Rhode Island Dept of Health, Office of Special Needs
Last Updated: 4/22/2022
Nationwide Provider
517 South Greensboro Street
Carrboro, NC 27510
Phone: 919-962-2001
Nationwide Provider
Organization Name: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Address:
517 South Greensboro Street
Carrboro, NC 27510
Phone: 919-962-2001
Fax: 919-966-7463
Service Categories:
Email: ectacenter@unc.edu
Eligibility:

Early childhood professionals

Services Provided:

Assists state programs funded under Part C and Part B-Section 619 of the IDEA, providing early intervention/early childhood special education information.

Funded by the Office of Special Education Programs in the US Department of Education

Source: Nationwide Suggest Providers Queue
Last Updated: 4/25/2022
Nationwide Provider
P.O. Box 6767
Towson, MD 21285
Phone: 844-426-7224
Nationwide Provider
Address:
P.O. Box 6767
Towson, MD 21285
Phone: 844-426-7224
Fax: 410-372-0209
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: 8/15/2022
Nationwide Provider
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Nationwide Provider
Address:
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Toll Free Phone: 800-872-5327
Service Categories:
Services Provided:

Department of Education is committed to:

  • Developing policies for federal educational financial aid, as well as disbursing and monitoring such monies.
  • Data about America's schools is being collected, and research is being disseminated.
  • Bringing critical educational concerns to the attention of the entire country.
  • Discrimination is prohibited, and all students have equal access to education.
  • Provides information and information for those wanting more information Student Loans, Grants, Laws & Guidance, and Data.
Provider Profiles:

*Note, contact info page lists multiple contact emails for different inquiries, please read thoroughly.

Source: Nationwide Suggest Providers Queue
Last Updated: 9/8/2022
Nationwide Provider
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-7100
Phone: 202-245-8000
Nationwide Provider
Organization Name: U.S. Department of Education
(Show others in Organization)
Address:
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-7100
Phone: 202-245-8000
Service Categories:
Email: idea@ed.gov
Services Provided:

Provides an informational website that is ran by the US Department of Education and discusses more in-depth about IDEA, which is a law that ensures all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.

Source: Nationwide Suggest Providers Queue
Last Updated: 9/8/2022