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What is a Direct Support Professional?

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Three photos sit above bold text on a navy blue background. In the first photo, several people wearing hairnets and blue gloves work together at a bakery station, shaping and placing cookie dough on trays. In the second, two people wearing helmets and sunglasses ride together in a small black convertible cart, parked outdoors near a grassy lot with trees and parked vehicles in the background. In the third, a woman with curly hair smiles gently while leaning close to another woman with short purple hair seated in a wheelchair, mouth open mid-expression, indoors. Below the photos, bold green text reads What Is A, followed by white text reading Direct Support Professional. In the bottom left corner is a white outline icon of two hands cupped around a heart.

What is a Direct Support Professional?

The people supporting those with disabilities.
Three photos sit above bold text on a navy blue background. In the first photo, several people wearing hairnets and blue gloves work together at a bakery station, shaping and placing cookie dough on trays. In the second, two people wearing helmets and sunglasses ride together in a small black convertible cart, parked outdoors near a grassy lot with trees and parked vehicles in the background. In the third, a woman with curly hair smiles gently while leaning close to another woman with short purple hair seated in a wheelchair, mouth open mid-expression, indoors. Below the photos, bold green text reads What Is A, followed by white text reading Direct Support Professional. In the bottom left corner is a white outline icon of two hands cupped around a heart.

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July 24, 2026

What is a Direct Support Professional?

The people supporting those with disabilities.
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A woman with curly dark hair sits in the foreground wearing a yellow floral sweater, her fist pressed anxiously to her mouth as she looks off to the side with a worried expression. She wears a smartwatch on her wrist. In the blurred background, a man is seen running down a dimly lit street at night, with police lights glowing red and blue in the distance and streetlights creating a hazy glow. Overlaid on the right side of the image is a missing person poster with the word MISSING in bold white letters at the top, a silhouette placeholder photo in a gray box below it, and three blank lines beneath representing details to be filled in.

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July 9, 2026

Autism’s Hidden Crisis: Running Away

Ruth remembers the first time her son ran away like it was yesterday.
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A group of wheelchair users blocks a city bus in the middle of a street during a protest, positioned directly in front of and beside the bus to prevent it from moving. One woman in the foreground holds a large handwritten sign reading Taxation Without Transportation with a wheelchair symbol on it, while several other protesters sit nearby in a line facing the bus and oncoming traffic. Parked and passing cars line the street in the background, with storefronts visible further back.

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July 1, 2026

How a Bus Protest Changed Disability Rights

The event you've never heard of.
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A man in a navy suit sits at a table signing a document while smiling up at a man in a gray suit holding up a clipboard with the signed paperwork. They're surrounded by a large group of cheering, applauding adults and several young children in front of a colorful classroom-themed banner with letters, numbers, and an American flag.

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June 16, 2026

Governor Signs Budget with $115M Medicaid Investment

Lawmakers prioritizes people with disabilities.
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Capitol TV broadcast of the Rhode Island House of Representatives chamber on June 5, 2026, overlaid with a bold green "PASSED" stamp with a checkmark, marking the passage of the FY2027 state budget.

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June 10, 2026

House & Senate Pass Budget with Medicaid Funding

The investment now goes to the Governor for approval.
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June 1, 2026

Proposed Rhode Island Budget Includes Full Rate Increase

The state's proposed budget includes full funding of a 100% Medicaid rate increase for providers of disability services.
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A speaker addresses a large crowd from a podium on the steps of a government building. Hundreds of advocates, many wearing blue, fill the plaza below. A sign language interpreter stands nearby.

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May 6, 2026

Hundreds of Advocates at the Rhode Island State House

"We shouldn't be up here every year arguing for the funds that there is no dispute we need. Let's end this now. Let's get the money in the budget."
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A YouTube-style thumbnail featuring a young child with blond hair and blue eyes on the right, wearing a white T-shirt with colorful dinosaurs. On the left, bold text reads “AFTER THE AUTISM DIAGNOSIS,” with “AUTISM” highlighted in bright green. The background shows a corkboard with pinned family photos, slightly blurred for emphasis.

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April 30, 2026

After the Autism Diagnosis, Everything Changed

How an autism diagnosis lead to a walk that supports thousands of people...
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Aerial view of the Rhode Island State House in Providence with the city skyline in the background. Overlaid text reads “Inside the State House.” A magnified inset shows lawmakers seated in a legislative chamber, suggesting a look at activity inside the building.

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April 14, 2026

Tour the Rhode Island State House

You have never seen a free resource like this. Get comfortable before you go to the State House.
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Split image showing the Rhode Island State House on the left under a clear blue sky, and a pile of U.S. $100 bills on the right, representing government funding and financial impact.

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April 9, 2026

New Report: RI Disability Services Contribute $851 Million to Economy

For too long, disability services have been framed as a cost. The new data tells a different story.
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