Consent Decree

The State of Rhode Island entered into a Settlement Agreement and Consent Decree with the United States Department of Justice in 2013 and 2014, respectively. The agreements address findings that the State violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in integrated settings, and by placing youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities at serious risk of segregation. Under the terms of these agreements, the State is committed to transform its service system over a 10-year period of time. The State is required to achieve certain goals each year. The ultimate goal is to provide integrated employment and day services for Rhode Islanders living with developmental disabilities.

The State is working to ensure that every person covered by the consent decree has a person-centered career development plan. “Person centered” means the plan matches that person’s unique needs, interests and goals. For students who will be leaving school, this plan must include a plan to transition from youth to adult services. Plans must also include vocational (employment) goals.