Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities / RI College

Over 400 adapted versions of popular literature for students with complex disabilities are organized in a searchable database on our website; it’s our most-visited page every month! We’re highlighting a few titles in recognition of Deafblind Awareness Week. Check them out at https://bit.ly/adaptedliterature.

Pictured are:
“Looking Out for Sarah” by Glenna Lang
Spend a day in the life of Sarah, a blind musician and teacher, and her guide dog, Perry, as he helps her shop, go to the post office and take the train to school.

“At Your Service” by JM Sheridan
Brianna and Mrs. Moomoo meet a service dog and learn how he is trained to help his owner, as well as some helpful dos and don’ts when you are around service dogs.

“Arthur’s Eyes” by Marc Brown
None of Arthur's friends wear glasses and his classmates tease him, but he gets in all kinds of trouble when he stops wearing them.

“Glasses for D.W.” by Marc Brown
D.W. wants to wear glasses, just like her big brother, Arthur, and sets out to prove that everything looks funny to her, too.

“I Really Absolutely Must Have Glasses” by Lauren Child
Lola is going to the optician and has decided that she absolutely must have glasses. Charlie tells her she’ll only get them if she needs them, and she insists she does.

In honor of Deafblind Awareness Week, today we’re sharing a tactile literature experience for deafblind learners. We have an extensive library of adapted literature, many of which offer literacy guides that provide a hands-on experience for tactile learners and bring meaning to texts that otherwise would be inaccessible to deafblind learners.

Visit this list – https://bit.ly/lit_guides – and look for the resources tagged with “GD” for Extended Literacy Guide. Below is an example of the guide for “At Your Service” by JM Sheridan.

This week, we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of Deafblind Awareness Week, a national advocacy campaign established in 1984 in honor of Helen Keller’s birthday on June 27. Deafblind Awareness Week recognizes all individuals with deafblindness and their achievements. Today, we’re sharing five books featuring deafblind authors and characters.

Pictured are:
“Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law” by Haben Girma
“Life at my Fingertips” by Robert J. Smithdas
“Being Seen: One Deafblind Woman's Fight to End Ableism” by Elsa Sjunneson
“Can You Feel the Thunder?” by Lynn McElfresh
“A Picture Book of Helen Keller” by David A. Adler

Thank you to the Exeter Public Library for inviting the Sherlock Center to a donor reception and celebration on Saturday. The library received a 2023 Access for All Abilities Mini Grant to install two automatic door openers for the interior foyer doors at its only public entrance. Below, Exeter Town Council member Calvin A. Ellis demonstrates the automatic door, which he says has been helpful when he comes to the library.

Thank you to everyone who attended “An Evening at Roger Williams Park Zoo” on Thursday! Your presence made our 30th anniversary celebration truly special. We honored this year’s inspiring Access for All Abilities Mini Grant recipients, cooled off with ice cream and then enjoyed exclusive access to explore the zoo.

Thank you to ZooCamp Director Beth Caporelli and Director of Guest Engagement Leigh Picard for joining us to speak about the impact of receiving past Sherlock Center mini-grants and about the importance of accessibility and inclusivity at the zoo.

Special congratulations to our 2024 grant recipients:
• The Collaborative 02885 in Warren, which will purchase a removable ramp for the main entryway at its new program location and make improvements to its restroom to be ADA compliant.
• Gnome Surf, which will build a four-part disability awareness strengthening program mandatory for all instructors with topics including autism awareness, sensitivity awareness, child safeguarding and more.
• Newport Art Museum, which will create participatory, inclusive spaces in galleries and quiet areas with resources such as tactile displays, didactics, iPads with artist-featured videos, musical instruments and sensory bins.
• Providence Public Library, which will install sound-dampening panels in program and classroom spaces to improve acoustics for all program participants and enable more hybrid program options.
• Refugee Dream Center, which will purchase two specialized beach chairs tailored for individuals with mobility impairments and establish a program so community members with disabilities can borrow them free of charge.

Thank you all for making it a memorable night at Roger Williams Park Zoo! 🍦

Access to Integrated Employment Specialist Ian-Robert Armitstead (left), Benefits Specialist Joshua Hughes and Coordinator, Youth & Adult Initiatives Kim Einloth attended the 2024 National APSE Conference in Charlotte, N.C, this week. Ian and Josh presented “Benefits planning: An essential practice to empower employment!” as a breakout session on Tuesday.

The Rhode Island College Department of Special Education and the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities invites applications for a full-time term position of assistant professor with an emphasis in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) with an anticipated fall semester start date.

This position will have a shared assignment that includes half-time teaching responsibilities and half-time assignment to the Sherlock Center to perform grant-funded research, implement community programs and disseminate information.

Learn more about this and our other open positions – Educational Advocate (Surrogate Parent) and Technical Assistance Specialist, Early Intervention – on our website: https://bit.ly/SC_careers.

Know any youths receiving SSI who want to work this summer? ☀️ Join our free online webinar, “Work Pays! An Introduction to SSI Work Incentives for Youth,” from noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow to learn about Social Security work incentives and related benefits programs for youths under the age of 22.

The session is helpful for families, transition teachers and staff, and other professionals who work with youth beneficiaries. Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/3yOtzi1.

We are partnering with the Sargent Center to bring a summer professional development opportunity – “Promoting Progress for Students with Disabilities: Instructional Practices and Belonging” – to special education administrators and educators. Join us in teams or as individuals. It will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, at Rhode Island College (RIC).

Timara Davis, Ph.D., and Steven Prater, M.A., from American Institutes for Research will lead discussions on instructional practices and fostering a sense of belonging for students with disabilities. PLUs will be provided. Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4c8H8Hx.

The Sherlock Center is hiring for the following positions:

Technical Assistance Specialist, Early Intervention: We are seeking to hire a full-time Technical Assistance Specialist to join an established team to support Rhode Island’s Early Intervention agencies, providers and the children and families they serve. Application review will begin June 7.

Educational Advocate (Surrogate Parent): We are seeking to hire two full-time Surrogate Parent Educational Advocates to join an established team to support the educational needs of children who are in the care of DCYF and have a disability. Application review will begin June 7.

Learn more about these opportunities at https://bit.ly/SC_careers.

The BU Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation will present “Thriving at Work While Living with Mental Illness” at noon on Thursday, May 16, with guest speaker Dr. Uma Chandrika Millner, associate professor at Lesley University.

This interactive webinar, part of the center’s Making Sense of Employment Research series, will highlight the conditions necessary for thriving at work among individuals living in challenging mental health situations.

Learn more and register at https://bit.ly/3wwKLrI.

Nominations are open for the fifth D-30 Disability Impact List, celebrating 30 community leaders with disabilities. Nominate anyone identifying as disabled. Deadline: May 20, 2024.

https://mydiversability.com/d30

The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals a record high in employment among disabled individuals. However, a closer look shows that disabled women and people of color still face significant barriers to workforce participation. Read the full blog statement for more details.

https://nacdd.org/addressing-disparities-in-disabled-employment-insights-and-action/

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for an unforgettable evening with Keith Jones and his presentation, “Inclusive Communities: The Foundation of a Self-Determined Life.” Through his candid and often humorous storytelling, Keith shared invaluable insights about overcoming systemic barriers to empower individuals with disabilities to decide how they want to live their lives. We are grateful for his message and that he could join us to launch our 30th anniversary celebration. To all who attended, your presence and engagement made the evening truly special.

The Sherlock Center is co-sponsoring Beyond the Diagnosis, an art exhibition that spotlights children living with rare and neglected diseases, on public display on the first floor of Horace Mann Hall at Rhode Island College (RIC) through May 10.

Artists have donated their time and talents to paint rare disease patients for this groundbreaking exhibition that has been traveling to medical schools, research institutes, hospitals, galleries and museums around the globe encouraging the medical community to look “beyond the diagnosis” to the patient.

The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) will host its third national advocacy event to amplify the voices of direct support professionals (DSPs) to Congress and the administration. NADSP will conduct virtual advocacy training sessions for DSPs nationwide on Tuesday, April 30, to prepare participants for virtual meetings with Congressional leaders and staff on Wednesday, May 1. Learn more and register at https://nadsp.org/2024-advocacy-event.

2024 NADSP Advocacy Symposium: Building A Grassroots Movement - NADSP % % This spring, the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) will embark on its third national advocacy event to bring the direct support professional (DSP) perspective to the forefront of Congress and the Administration during a time of unprecedented workforce challenges.pril

Disability Rights Rhode Island is currently seeking to fill the position of Representative Payee Financial Reviewer. To get more information and a complete job description visit our Employment Opportunity page here: https://drri.org/contact-us/employment/

Join us for “Inclusive Communities: The Foundation of a Self-Determined Life” with special guest Keith Jones, a strong advocate for independent quality living in the community, on Tuesday, April 30.

In our quest for a truly inclusive community, individuals with disabilities still face significant hurdles, including socioeconomic disparities that limit access to resources and attitudinal barriers that create social exclusion. Mr. Jones will bring his lived experience as a person with a disability to the conversation how various stakeholders can collaborate to build a strong support network that empowers individuals with disabilities throughout their lives.

His presentation will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Gaige Hall Auditorium at Rhode Island College. Visit https://bit.ly/SC_Jones for more information and to register.

“Inclusive Communities: The Foundation of a Self-Determined Life” In our quest for a truly inclusive community, individuals with disabilities still face significant hurdles, including socioeconomic disparities that limit access to resources and attitudinal barriers that create social exclusion. This free presentation explores how a collaborative approach can empow...

The Sherlock Center is pleased to welcome special guest Keith Jones, a strong advocate for independent quality living in the community, for the first event of its 30th anniversary series on Tuesday, April 30.

In “Inclusive Communities: The Foundation of a Self-Determined Life,” Mr. Jones will bring his lived experience as a person with a disability to the conversation how various stakeholders can collaborate to build a strong support network that empowers individuals with disabilities throughout their lives.

This event will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Gaige Hall Auditorium at Rhode Island College. Registration (click below) is required by Tuesday, April 23.

“Inclusive Communities: The Foundation of a Self-Determined Life” In our quest for a truly inclusive community, individuals with disabilities still face significant hurdles, including socioeconomic disparities that limit access to resources and attitudinal barriers that create social exclusion. This free presentation explores how a collaborative approach can empow...

The Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities is seeking to hire a benefits specialist who is bilingual in Spanish to counsel and educate SSI/SSDI beneficiaries about how employment will affect their benefits as well as public and private health insurance and other federal, state and/or local benefits they receive.

Applicants should be proficient in speaking and writing Spanish, have at least an associate degree and one or more years of experience supporting adolescents or adults with adults with intellectual and developmental or other disabilities. Previous work incentive benefits counseling experience is not required; training will be provided.

Initial review of applications will begin by April 30 and continue until the position is filled.

Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/43SJaZt

⏳ Only one week left to apply for our All Abilities Mini Grant!

Our grant program supports initiatives aimed at improving accessibility, allowing people with disabilities to fully participate in social, leisure, recreational and cultural activities alongside other community members. Click below to learn more and explore past projects that received funding. Applications are due by Wednesday, April 10. Visit https://bit.ly/Sherlock-Mini-Grants to apply.

Access for All Abilities Mini Grants The Access for All Abilities Mini Grant program supports businesses, nonprofits, schools and city/town agencies that want to improve accessibility so people with disabilities can participate in social, leisure, recreational and cultural activities alongside other community members.

The Power of Small Gestures: Celebrating Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with a story of small gestures making a big impact on children with communication disorders.

University of Rhode Island's new Rhody Safe Rides van is equipped with a wider wheelchair lift, providing accessibility for students, faculty and staff who need rides at night. Riders use a smartphone app to schedule curb-to-curb trips from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends.

The RI Cross Disability Coalition will be having their meeting on Monday, April 8, 2024 from 1pm-3pm at Red, White and Brew in Warwick, RI. The presenter is Katie Lowe, the owner of, Cheetah Greetings and creator of the All About Me!! Portfolio. Katie will be teaching us how to make a page out of the book.
Please join us. Were Gonna have a BLAST...

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) provide a range of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including job coaching, personal care, and fighting loneliness and depression

The Direct Support Workforce Solutions group at the on Community Integration (ICI), an AUCD , works with employers, state officials, and related stakeholders to recruit and retain direct support professionals.

Amy Hewitt, Director of ICI, said, “We’re seeing more action in states than ever in terms of identifying the need for a strong direct-care workforce.”

Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/3T8gcRq

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We are seeking to hire for the position of Coordinator, Youth and Adult Initiatives to support our initiatives related to youth and adults with disabilities, including workforce development, person-centered thinking and planning and self-directed supports. Activities include technical assistance, training and dissemination of information to professionals, community members, individuals and family members.

The coordinator also will collaborate with local, state and national entities on activities related to individuals with disabilities.

Learn more about this position and apply online: https://bit.ly/3IKqLnY