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Hey there, Nelson!

Welcome to RIPIN's Self-Directed Support Program's December 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.

In this month's newsletter, you can:

• Reflect on our November 8th Self-Directed Support Conference with us.
• Watch the recording of our Partner Showcase Webinar from October.
• Review some of our webinars from the past.
• Register for our last webinar of 2024, our Peer Mentor Panel with Advocates in Action, on December 3rd!
• Take a look ahead with our 2025 Calendar!
• Look back on 2024 with our year-in-review.
• Share your 2025 goals with us!
• Explore some unique gift ideas for your loved ones this holiday season.
• Find out what our partners are up to this month.

The Self-Directed Support Team would again like to thank all the families, consumers, professionals, presenters, exhibitors, and RIPIN staff who participated in this amazingly hopeful and energizing day.

Attendees chose from 12 informative panels or interactive presentations across three different sessions throughout the day, engaging in discussions around employment, information from the Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH), a community activity guide, self-directed staffing, supported decision-making, goods and services, and blended services. They also heard from a peer mentor panel with Advocates in Action during lunch. Many of those in attendance visited our 15 exhibitor tables with representatives from Rhode Island's fiscal intermediaries, state agencies, support brokers, and advocacy organizations.

We appreciate everyone's efforts, enthusiasm, and willingness to share their experiences, which reminds us of the importance of our work and the power of our consumers’ voices.

Stay tuned for information on a conference in 2025!

On October 22nd, the RIPIN team presented a webinar showcasing our partners, Advocates in Action (AinA), and the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College. Watch the recording to see how they provide resources to the self-directed community!

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.

Join RIPIN and Advocates in Action for a web-based panel featuring peer mentors. Learn about self-directed peer mentor training and listen as they share their experiences!

Look out for the links to register for these events soon!

RIPIN's Self-Directed Support Program had an amazing and busy year!

Take a look back with us:

• Our "On the Rhode with Self-Direction" tour kicks off at the Warwick and Peace Dale Libraries.
• The Link with Your Community guidebook is released on the RIPIN website.

Do you need some unique gift ideas?

• Consider supporting a small business owned by someone who went through the self-employment program with the Rhode Island Developmental Disability Coalition by viewing their business directory.
• Make an easy but meaningful gift with these directions for making a tear-out coupon book.
• Think about giving an "experience" rather than a physical gift this year. Check out some ideas here. And if you still want to wrap a present even though it's an experience, here are some ideas of what to do.
• Does someone you love struggle to open wrapped gifts? Check out this video tutorial for an accessible solution.

Need to get organized?

• Here is a link to a free printable gift tracker.

We will be starting a new feature in this newsletter where we ask a question for you to email us with your answers. Some of these answers will be shared in the newsletter that comes out the next month!

Our question for the January issue is:

What are your goals for the new year?

Many people make new goals to focus on meeting in the new year. You may call them “resolutions,” as well. Share with us a goal you want to achieve in the next year!

Email us using the link or at selfdirectedsupport@ripin.org with your answer to this question!

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.