Rhode Island public guide · Official sources checked July 29, 2026Sources · Report a correction
Beyond ChildhoodRhode Island human help

A parent-first guide to Rhode Island adult services

Turn Rhode Island’s DD system into the next action you can complete.

Choose the situation that fits. Every action shows where to start, what to prepare, what happens next, what proof to save, and who to contact when progress stops.

No accountNo answers transmitted or savedOfficial sources firstNot an eligibility decision
Immediate danger? Call 911. For suicide, mental-health, or crisis support, call or text 988. Report suspected abuse, neglect, mistreatment, exploitation, or a serious incident involving a person with a developmental disability to the 24-hour BHDDH Quality Assurance hotline at 401-462-2629.

Human help at any point

Contact the BHDDH Eligibility Unit

The Eligibility Unit answers application and required-record questions. The Division also publishes a Spanish phone line, TDD, transition contacts, case-management contacts, and crisis and abuse routes.

Apply for Rhode Island DD services

Build a Rhode Island action plan

Which situation is closest?

Your choice is used only in this page. Nothing is sent or saved.

Browse without the form

All six Rhode Island starting situations

JNY-RI-01

Not started or approaching school exit

Open BHDDH eligibility, build the record, and connect school, YIT, and VR work.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Use the current online or paper BHDDH application and save the complete submission.
  2. Organize onset, diagnosis, intellectual, adaptive, functional, medical, school, and vocational evidence without assuming autism alone is enough.
  3. Invite BHDDH Youth in Transition to the IEP process and open the current ORS vocational-rehabilitation lane.

JNY-RI-03

A result, plan, or notice arrived

Separate every layer, build the person-centered plan, and use the correct DD appeal.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Separate clinical eligibility, Medicaid LTSS, assessment, funding, plan, authorization, provider or worker readiness, and start.
  2. Turn strengths, preferences, assessed needs, goals, risks, services, providers or workers, safeguards, and backups into the person-led plan.
  3. Use the complete BHDDH notice for an application, tier, or funding decision and preserve the exact appeal record.

JNY-RI-04

Choosing delivery, providers, payment, or a start

Compare service models and verify every operational layer.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Compare licensed provider services, self-direction, fiscal-intermediary and support-broker roles, staffing responsibility, settings, and verified limits.
  2. Use the official DD provider list, then verify the exact service, capacity, safety, quality, fit, and intake facts directly.
  3. Separate FY26 rate or funding authority, the individual plan and budget, service approval, operational readiness, and actual start.

JNY-RI-05

A decision is adverse or decision support is needed

Use the correct Medicaid appeal, rights, benefits, housing, and decision-support routes.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Use the complete DHS, EOHHS, HealthSource RI, or health-plan notice and its current appeal or fair-hearing instructions.
  2. Document the plan, provider, access, quality, or rights issue and use case management and BHDDH channels without losing a separate appeal or safety report.
  3. Keep Social Security and housing work moving while documenting the adult's choices and using Rhode Island supported decision-making correctly.

JNY-RI-06

Urgent need, crisis, abuse concern, or service breakdown

Address immediate safety, use the QA route, then correct the service failure.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Call 911 for immediate danger or an emergency; otherwise call or text 988 for crisis support.
  2. Use the 24-hour BHDDH Quality Assurance hotline for suspected abuse, neglect, mistreatment, exploitation, or a serious incident and separately correct the failed service.
  3. Document changed needs, failed supports, and risk and request the specific assessment, plan, funding, service, provider, worker, or crisis action.

Provider evidence

Listing is not availability

These examples demonstrate the evidence standard. They are not recommendations. Directly verify service, geography, license when applicable, current capacity, safeguards, staffing, quality, and individual fit.

Official listing example

BHDDH DD service provider list

Listed service: Official public provider discovery

Area: Verify service, capacity, acceptance, safety, quality, fit, authorization, staffing, and start

Official listingCheckedAccepting inquiriesUnknownActual openingUnknownQuality / fitNot evaluated

Open the official source

Official listing example

BHDDH provider standards and tools

Listed service: Official standards, technical bulletins, service requests, rates, and funding levels

Area: Program authority does not prove current individual capacity or fit

Official listingCheckedAccepting inquiriesUnknownActual openingUnknownQuality / fitNot evaluated

Open the official source

Official listing example

Self-directed supports

Listed service: Fiscal intermediary, support broker, participant-employer, budget, and worker resources

Area: Choice does not prove funding, worker qualification, payroll readiness, backup coverage, or start

Official listingCheckedAccepting inquiriesUnknownActual openingUnknownQuality / fitNot evaluated

Open the official source

Transparency

Rhode Island official-source register

SourceOwnerStatusCheckedReview
Apply for Rhode Island DD services Rhode Island BHDDH Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent application, criteria, records, help, and complete-application timeline2026-07-29monthly
Plan the transition to adult DD services Rhode Island BHDDH Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent Youth in Transition and school-meeting route2026-07-29monthly
Understand the DD assessment process Rhode Island BHDDH Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent SIS-A, ANSQ, follow-up, and funding-level process2026-07-29monthly
Review adult DD service options Rhode Island BHDDH Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent case-management, self-directed, community, residential, employment, and transportation overview2026-07-29monthly
Use conflict-free case-management resources Rhode Island BHDDH Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent case-manager, planning, monitoring, and referral resources2026-07-29monthly
Find Rhode Island DD service providers Rhode Island BHDDH Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent public provider list2026-07-29monthly
Review DD provider tools, FY26 rates, and funding levels Rhode Island BHDDH Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent standards, rate, funding-level, and service-request register2026-07-29monthly
Learn about self-directed supports Rhode Island BHDDH Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent employer, fiscal-intermediary, support-broker, budget, and worker route2026-07-29monthly
Appeal a Rhode Island DD decision Rhode Island BHDDH Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent administrative review, EOHHS hearing, court review, and stay guidance2026-07-29monthly
Apply for Medicaid LTSS Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Servicescurrent LTSS application packet and help route2026-07-29monthly
File a Medicaid or DHS appeal Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Servicescurrent appeal, expedited appeal, aid-pending, and fair-hearing route2026-07-29monthly
Apply for Rhode Island vocational rehabilitation Rhode Island DHS Office of Rehabilitation Servicescurrent VR application, eligibility, contact, and Order-of-Selection route2026-07-29monthly
Apply for Social Security disability benefits Social Security Administrationcurrent federal application route2026-07-29monthly
Use Rhode Island supported decision-making law Rhode Island General Assemblycurrent statutory requirements, roles, form, and limits2026-07-29quarterly
Use the Rhode Island Rental Resource Guide Rhode Island Housingcurrent April 2026 statewide rental-resource guide2026-07-29quarterly
Contact Rhode Island DD and crisis resources Rhode Island BHDDHcurrent DD, language, abuse, and 988 contact routes2026-07-29monthly
Report abuse or a serious incident Rhode Island BHDDH Quality Assurance Unitcurrent 24-hour QA reporting and emergency route2026-07-29monthly
Know DD service rights Rhode Island BHDDH Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent rights, discrimination, and QA reporting guidance2026-07-29quarterly