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Insights from OSCIL's Olmstead Listening Sessions

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Over the course of four Olmstead Listening Sessions, OSCIL engaged with the Rhode Island community to gather valuable input on supporting fulfilling, independent lives for individuals with disabilities. These sessions focused on four main topics:

  1. Goals for an Ideal Independent Life

    • Participants shared their visions of an ideal independent life, emphasizing the importance of communication access, access to other accommodations, fulfilling and gainful employment, accessible affordable housing, social inclusion, financial stability, and access to quality, responsive healthcare. Many expressed the need for consideration, understanding, and respect in daily living.

  2. Existing Services and Resources

    • The community highlighted various services and resources currently available that aid in achieving their goals for independent living. These included community resources like RIPTA and Paratransit (RIde), Section 8 and subsidized housing, MTM, LTSS personal care supports, Uber and Lyft, many programs through DHS, interpreter agencies and RI CDHH, VRI and automated captions, community health centers, and the Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS). Generally, participants noted that all of these services fail to fully meet the needs of people with disabilities.

  3. Barriers to Independent Living

    • Despite the existing support, several barriers were identified that hinder individuals from living their best lives. Common challenges included the extreme lack of available housing units, especially accessible ones, and the long wait for housing vouchers. Lack of communication access and little accountability were particularly problematic for the Deaf community. Other issues included insufficient funding for support services, lack of awareness about available resources, and societal attitudes that perpetuate stigma and discrimination. Transportation issues and bureaucratic hurdles were also frequently mentioned.

  4. Needed Services, Programs, and Changes

    • To overcome these barriers, participants suggested a range of services, programs, and changes. Key recommendations included increasing funding for disability services, expanding affordable housing options, enhancing public transportation accessibility, and improving public awareness and education about disability issues. Additionally, there was a call for more inclusive policies and practices within workplaces and community spaces.

These sessions provided a platform for open dialogue and highlighted the community's collective vision for a more inclusive and supportive environment. The insights gathered will be instrumental in shaping future initiatives and policies to better serve Rhode Islanders with disabilities.

Thank you to all who participated and shared their experiences and ideas. Together, we can work towards creating a community where everyone has the opportunity to live fulfilling, independent lives.

We'll continue to highlight outcomes from these community listening sessions over the next several weeks, so follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more updates soon! You can also subscribe to our mailing list if you haven't done so already.

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