A latino man with a short dark beard and sunglasses is holding up a blue OSCIL frisbee in front of a blue table spread with brochures and blue OSCIL promotional items. Two white women are sitting in chairs behind the table. All three are smiling at the viewer. They are under a canopy on a wide open green, grassy area.

Disability Awareness & Outreach

OSCIL is committed to fostering inclusive communities through active engagement and educational initiatives. Our goal is to raise awareness of disability and create opportunities for learning, participation, and support.

Disability Training & Workshops

OSCIL actively engages with the community through a variety of events and initiatives. We collaborate with local organizations, participate in community fairs, and host informational sessions to raise awareness about disability issues and the services we offer. Our outreach programs connect with diverse communities to ensure that all Rhode Islanders can access the Independent Living resources they need to live healthy, safe, and fulfilling lives.

These events also provide a platform for the community to learn how to be more inclusive and supportive. We offer presentations and workshops tailored to different audiences, including students, educators, employers, and healthcare providers. These programs are led by individuals with disabilities who share authentic and valuable insights from their lived experiences.

A white woman with shoulder-length gray hair is sitting behind a blue table that is arranged with several promotional items and upright displays of flyers and brochures. Two black women are standing on the opposite side of the table looking at some of the materials. There is a yellow laborador retriever wearing a guide dog harness while he lays at the seated woman's feet beneath the table. The scene is in a long white room with elegant, modern architecture. There are other tables in the background and a large crowd of people.

Disability Awareness

OSCIL works together with state and local government and public entities to identify and eliminate barriers for people with disability; these barriers may be:

architectural, such as a state program operating out of the building with no elevator;
communication-related, such a failing to provide a deaf person with a sign language interpreter for a doctor's appointment;
or systemic or attitudinal in nature, like a car dealership choosing not to be accessible on out of a misconception that all people with disabilities are unable to drive.

OSCIL has provided technical assistance to T.F. Greene Airport, area hospitals, Roger Williams Park, the Board of Canvassers, and many other private businesses and organizations to help them learn how to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and Rhode Island Law 42-87.

Individuals who experience barriers in the community, i.e. inaccessible restaurants, public events, schools, etc. are encouraged to call OSCIL for information and assistance.

Disability Training & Workshops

OSCIL takes a proactive approach to disability awareness by offering workshops, trainings, and presentations on a variety of disability topics, including:

Assistive technology demonstrations
Barriers to effective communication
How Center services can help your independent living goals
Understanding nursing home transition
Utilizing telecommunication devices for the Deaf
How home modifications can increase access in a home
Young adult independent living skills training
Effective public testimony

For more information about workshops and trainings, call OSCIL at 401-738-1013 or email info@oscil.org.

Disability Sensitivity Workshop

This workshop helps businesses and organizations create a more inclusive and supportive environment. It comes complete with real-world strategies and examples for engaging the disability community!

More About the Disability Sensitivity Workshop

Lunch & Learn Workshops

Join us the last Wednesday of the month for informative sessions about a variety of disability and independent living topics!

More About Lunch & Learn