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Hey there, Nelson!

Welcome to RIPIN's Self-Directed Support Program's September newsletter!

The goal of the Self-Directed Support Program (SDSP) at RIPIN is to guide families and individuals in navigating the systems and supports available to them when they choose self-direction. Sharing information in this newsletter is one of the many ways we do this.

Did you know that October is Disability Employment Awareness Month? This month highlights the importance of inclusive hiring practices and promotes a greater understanding of the value that employees with disabilities bring to the workplace. When workers with disabilities are included, we foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment for all.

In this month's newsletter, you can:

• Register for our first-ever Self-Direction Conference!
• Review our most recent webinar, Natural Supports: Who's in My Circle?
• Review some of our webinars from the past.
• Sign up for our October webinar: Partner Showcase
• View our Fall Calendar
• Learn more about Disability Employment Awareness Month.
• Introducing, our support navigator, Laura McGreevy! (She was formerly known as Laura Kaplan)
• Find out what our partners are up to this October!

RIPIN will be hosting our first Self-Direction conference in November 2024!

Space is limited. Priority registration begins with Individuals who self-direct, their families, and direct support professionals. Registration for this group is open now.

Registration for professionals will open on October 18th.

On September 24, the RIPIN team presented an interactive webinar called "Natural Supports: Who's in Your Circle?" The recording of the presentation will be up on our webpage shortly.

If you are interested in seeing this workshop as it was presented at the 2024 Advocates in Action conference, click here.

We have been building up a library of our previously recorded webinars on our webpage.

Check out the many topics and resources we have covered and shared with the community. They are full of important information and cover a wide variety of useful topics related to Self-Direction.

In this special "Partner Showcase," representatives from Advocates in Action and the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities will join us to share how their organizations can empower and support self-directing individuals and families. You'll learn about the resources, programs, and advocacy they offer, and how they can help you navigate the complexities of self-direction.

Thanks to those who attended our "On the Rhode" events in Warwick, Peace Dale, Barrington, and Central Falls. We appreciate your honest participation and hope that you left these sessions feeling more empowered as you continue to navigate self-direction for yourself or the people you support.

Check out what we have planned this fall!

Members of our team visited Red, White, and Brew, a coffee and gift shop, owned by Michael Coyne, an individual with a disability in our community. Many of the gifts available are made by people with disabilities who own their own small businesses as well. Michael attended a small business class hosted by the RI Developmental Disabilities Council (RIDDC). You can find more information on these classes here. Stop by Red, White, and Brew coffee and The Budding Violet gift shop to see what all the "buzz" is about!

Laura and her husband Ryan, on their wedding day this past July.

What brought you to RIPIN and the Self-Directed Support Team?

My mom recently retired from RIPIN after many years, and she encouraged me to look for a job here. For my whole career, I have worked in the disability and human services fields, primarily as a Direct Support Professional (DSP). In 2020, after working for various agency programs, I began supporting individuals who self-directed their services. I loved being a DSP and still keep in contact with the people I worked for.

When I saw the open position at RIPIN's self-directed support program, I was really excited because I feel that contributing a DSP's perspective is valuable to our team's goal of increasing and improving capacity for self-direction in Rhode Island.

What is your role within the SDSP team, and what are your duties?

I am a support navigator. I prepare, design, and write many of the things you see and read from our team, like this newsletter! I do a lot of research and find resources and information that benefit those who participate in self-direction. For example, I played a big role in the development of our online activity resource, Link With Your Community. Outside of my job, I am an artist and writer, so I love it when I can use my creative skills to benefit our team.

What has been your favorite moment so far within our program?

My favorite moment is any time I get to have conversations with people who self-direct their services. I felt honored to facilitate a conversation with peer advocates in our webinar, "Why I chose Self-Direction," where we heard first-hand why being able to self-direct is important to them. I also enjoyed the Mocktail Party for the in-person event, "Self-Direction Connection," that our team hosted. As part of the event, Nathan Markley (RIPIN IT) and I presented a sneak peek of our Link With Your Community Guide. We received valuable feedback and suggestions from participants before its official release. These experiences show me the power of centering individuals with disabilities in all that we do.

What do you love about Fall?

I love the cooler weather and getting to wear long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, hoodies, etc. I tend to cook more and get craftier this time of year, and love coming up with creative costumes and decorations for Halloween. I usually have more than one costume that I will wear each season. October is also my birth month, and even as I grow older, I still love celebrating it for longer than I probably should.

RIPIN recently released our online community activity guide, Link With Your Community.

Here are some activity suggestions you may find interesting this month, that you can find in the guide:

The Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol is a beautiful place to take a walk and enjoy the leaves changing colors.

Libraries have so much to offer beyond all their great books! Find your local library and check out their October event calendar.

Explore events happening at October on Festival.net, such as the RISD Craft show, happening on October 19.

Find a trail to walk near you with RI Walks, and then go on a Sensory Hike.

Each month we share updates, information, and upcoming events from our partners below:

Founded in 1991, RIPIN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps thousands of Rhode Islanders each year with health care, special education, and healthy aging. RIPIN uses a model of peer professional support—more than three-fourths of RIPIN’s staff are caregivers of a loved one with special health care or special education needs. For more information about RIPIN and its mission, please visit the organization's website at www.ripin.org.