The Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council emphatically supports Representative Chippendale’s efforts to fully include students with disabilities in the promise scholarship. In addition to improving the lives of students and the community, these changes will help comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. We also commend Rhode Island College on their fast action once becoming aware of the situation, but it is important to note that there may be a few other issues that need to be addressed in order to be fully inclusive and in line with the ADA, including allowing students who remained in public schools under the IDEA through their twenty first birthday, and allowing for additional time as an accommodation to complete the program.
– Kevin Nerney, RIDDC Executive Director
You can read the Providence Journal article that prompted our response here.