Educational Advocacy

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

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.

• 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 

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.

Programs

• Leadership Transformation Academy
• Student Advocacy 
• Civic Leadership

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.

• 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.

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.

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. 

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.

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

Affiliate programs Utah AHEAD, New Mexico AHEAD

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.