Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility RI's Quarterly DD Community Forum, 12-16-2025

RI DD Community Forum

Tuesday, December 16th, 2025

Watch the Recording from the December Forum Below:

You can also watch the original (raw) footage below:

Resources Links and Information Shared by Presenters at the December 16th Forum

Updates from Advocates in Action RI

Download the 2-page Leadership Series information flyer from https://tinyurl.com/aboutLS2026 Register for the Leadership Series Virtual Open House on Wednesday, January 7th from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at https://www.tinyurl.com/LS26OH-0126  Learn about the application process and how to apply for the next Leadership Series at https://www.advocatesinaction.org/leaders26_apply Join the Advocates in Action mailing list at: https://www.advocatesinaction.org/contact

Updates from the RI Statewide Workforce Initiative

Email the Statewide Workforce Initiative at riswi@umn.edu to learn about the summit on Wednesday, January 14th  Visit the Direct Support Worforce Initiatve web page at: https://sherlockcenter.ric.edu/services-projects/direct-support-workforce

Register for the RISWI 2026 Summit at https://tinyurl.com/RISWI-26. This is a free event. complete the survey about Direct Support Professionals at https://tinyurl.com/DSP-Survey

Download a 1-page PDF flyer about the RISWI 2026 Summit

Updates from RIPIN

Learn about RIPIN's 2026 Self-Directed Supports Conference and how to register a vendor table at https://tinyurl.com/RIPINConfReg26 Take RIPIN's Conference Survey at https://tinyurl.com/RIPINSDsurvey View RIPIN's 2026 Self-Directed Supports Calendar and register for upcoming events at https://ripin.org/selfdirectedsupport/ Visit RIPIN's SD webinar library at: https://ripin.org/webinars/sdsp

Updates from the RI Division of Developmental Disabilities

Visit the Division's Employment Services page at: https://bhddh.ri.gov/developmental-disabilities/services-adults/employment Visit the Division's Residential Supports page at: https://bhddh.ri.gov/developmental-disabilities/services-adults/residential-habilitationgroup-home Visit the Division's Youth in Transition Page at: https://www.bhddh.ri.gov/developmental-disabilities/transitioning-adult-services

Visit the Division's Community Supports page at: https://bhddh.ri.gov/developmental-disabilities/services-adults/community-supports Download the materials in the Division's Leave Behind Packet for Conflict Free Case Managers at: https://bhddh.ri.gov/developmental-disabilities/conflict-free-case-managers Download the Division's DD Guidebook at: https://tinyurl.com/RIDDGuide

Download Information and Instructions about CMS's Mandatory HCBS Training for DSPs

Providers, including people who hire their own staff through Self-Directed Services, must have their Direct Support Professionals complete this online training by the end of 2025.

Click the links below to download information and instructions from the Division, available in English and Spanish.

Download the HCBS information and instructions packet in english.  Descargue el paquete de información e instrucciones de HCBS en español.

Watch the video below for a brief tutorial about how to register for and complete the HCBS Training

Questions and Answers from the September Forum:

We've included an index of the questions and answers from the September DD Forum in the space below.

CLICK on a question to open our YouTube Channel and hear the answer presenters shared during the forum. While you're there, you can also use the YouTube Player to turn on closed captions and translate them to your preferred language. Visit our YouTube Tutorial page for more information.

QUESTION 1: How much does it cost to attend RIPIN’s Conference?

QUESTION 2: How can I get help finding a job?

QUESTION 3: Can I redo my ISP if my family wasn’t able to attend the meeting?

Background: My new Case Manager scheduled my ISP on a day when my family wasn’t available. I didn’t know I could change the date, so I went to the meeting. I’m not comfortable with the ISP that came from the meeting because I wanted my family to attend.

QUESTION 4: Can you provide an update on the new Peer Supports Service?

Background: My son was just approved for Self-Directed Services, and we’d like to know when he can access Peer Supports.

QUESTION 5: What is the status of the Division’s Peer Support workgroup?

QUESTION 6: When can I start working as a Peer Mentor? I completed the Peer Mentor Training offered by Advocates in Action and RIPIN for people who self-direct their DD Services.

QUESTION 7: Can you talk about the HCBS training that DSPs for people who Self-Direct need to complete by the end of 2025? What happens if they cannot do it by the December 31st deadline?

QUESTION 8: Re the HCBS Training for DSPs who work for people who Self-Direct: Is the employer the only one who needs to sign off when their employees complete the training, or do DSPs also need to submit their certificates of completion?

QUESTION 9: What happens if people complete the HCBS training but are unable to access their certificate?

QUESTION 10: Will people need to redo the training if they log out and log back in, or will their certificate still be there when they do?

QUESTION 11: Was the information about the HCBS training supposed to be sent to everyone who uses Self-Directed Services? What should people who self-direct do if they didn’t receive this information?

QUESTION 12: Do I need to attend the second Leadership Series Open House before I complete an application to join the class of 2026?

Contact the Division of Developmental Disabilities

Advocates in Action hosts the Quarterly DD Community Forum for the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD).

Please contact the Division directly with any questions or information requests.

BHDDH.AskDD@bhddh.ri.gov email address Stay in Touch! Newsletter sign-up form. Click to sign-up for DD News & Updates. visit the Division's webiste

This page was updated on Thursday, January 8, 2026

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