Transitioning To Adult Services
The Division offers support to young people during their transition to adulthood. We call this support Youth in Transition (YIT).
Before getting into what YIT is, let’s first focus on what it means to transition to adulthood. To transition means to change from one thing to another thing over time. When someone transitions to adulthood, they are changing from childhood to adulthood. There are many factors that are part of this transition, such as:
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Finishing high school.
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Applying to college.
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Getting hired at a job.
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Moving into a new apartment alone or with a partner or roommate(s).
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Deciding what to do with free time, including who to spend time with.
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Finding a new adult primary care doctor.
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Making choices about services and supports to get.
The transition to adulthood is a major life change. Up to this time, the young person's parent(s) or caregiver(s) made most, or all, the decisions for the young person. During the transition, the young person becomes the decision-maker. This means they must make choices for themselves. While they can ask for help and advice from people in their life, the young person makes the final decision.
Transitioning to adulthood can be exciting and overwhelming for any young person. This is especially true for young people with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). Young people with I/DD have extra things to do during their transition. They must move out of child and school I/DD services into adult I/DD services. This is where YIT can help.
YIT Overview
YIT is available to youth with I/DD aged 14 to 22 that are still in school. YIT supports young people with I/DD through their transition from child to adult I/DD services. YIT does this by:
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Sharing information with the young person and their family about adult I/DD services.
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Going to the young person's Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting(s).
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Encouraging the young person to explore their interests and set goals for the future.
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Giving resources to teacher(s) to use when they work with the young person on their IEP.
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Sharing resources with the young person and their team to help them plan for life after high school.
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Checking in with the young person, their family, and their teacher(s) about the transition.
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Helping the young person apply for adult I/DD services with the Division.
The Division partnered with two other state agencies to do this work. One of the agencies is the RI Department of Education (RIDE). The second agency is the Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS).
Much of our team's success is also due to the partnerships we have with the community. Our partners include adults with I/DD and their families. It also includes community agencies like Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN). Together, we are enhancing the vision we all share of an integrated life in the community.
Inviting BHDDH to School Meetings
Schools can ask the Division to send someone to school meetings for students with disabilities. The school meeting must be an Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting. To make this request, submit the online IEP invite form.
The Division will assign someone to attend the IEP meeting. If no one can attend the meeting, someone in the Transition Unit can talk with you separate from the IEP meeting. You can let us know if you’d like to do this by emailing the Transition Administrator at susan.hayward@bhddh.ri.gov or calling 401-462-3421.
Application Process
Youth with I/DD can apply for adult I/DD services as early as 16 years 10 months. Applying early gives youth more planning time and support. Starting early helps make the transition from school to adult services smoother. To apply for adult services, visit our Eligibility and Application webpage.
Transition Guides and Resources
There are many resources to help people as they transition. This section shares a list of guides and resources on transitioning to adult I/DD services.
Packet for Ages 14-16:
- Download the full packet for ages 14-16 in English or Spanish
- Packet Letter Ages 14-16 in English or Spanish
Packet for Ages 17-22:
- Download the full packet for ages 17-22 in English or Spanish
- Packet Letter Ages 17+ English (PDF)
Common Information for all students, ages 14 – 22:
- RIPIN Brochure English Spanish
- Navigation Checklist for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (RIPIN) English / Spanish
- Documents to Keep for Youth Transitioning to Adult Life (PACER) English
- How Healthcare Transition Works (brochure from RI Dept of Health) English
- RI Department of Health Special Needs Registry English / Spanish
- RIPIN Myths of Guardianship English / Spanish
- Cedar Family Centers Fact Sheet English / Spanish
- Home-Based Therapeutic Services (HBTS) Fact Sheet English / Spanish
- Personal Assistance Services and Supports (PASS) Fact Sheet English / Spanish
There are many providers in the community that offer transition services. For a list of providers, review the following table. The list is also available to print (Transition Provider Contact List (PDF)). You can also review our DD Service Provider webpage.
Agency Name | Address | Phone Number | Contact Person(s) | Contact Email(s) |
AccessPoint RI | 111 Comstock Parkway, Cranston, RI 02921 | 401-941-1112 | Rory Carmody and Tammy Fonseca/Cornerstone | rcarmody@accesspointri.org and TFonseca@accesspointri.org |
Action Based Enterprises Inc. | 141 Main St, Woonsocket, RI 02895 | 401-767-5959 | Mike Purcell | mikepurc76@gmail.com |
Avatar Residential Inc. | 33 College Hill Rd, Building 33, Warwick, RI 02886 | 401-826- 7500 | Erica Middleton | emiddleton@avatarresidential.com |
Beckett Academy | 2374 Post Rd, Suite 204, Warwick, RI 02886 | 401-921-6855 | Melinda Quinn State Director RI | melinda.quinn@lifeconnectionsusa.org |
Community Living of Rhode Island, Inc. | 349 Centreville Rd, Building 6, Warwick, RI 02886 | 401-739-9006 | Robert Sasseville | robert@communitylivingri.com |
Community Residences Inc. | 10 Dorrance St, Suite 706 Providence, RI 02903 | 01-519-3727 | Paul M. Rosin, Executive Director | n/a |
Corliss Institute Inc. | 292 Main St, Warren, RI 02885 | 401-245-3609 | Julio Tavares and Philippe Leplat | jtavares@corliss.org and pleplat@corliss.org |
Easterseals Rhode Island, Inc. | 662 Hartford, Ave, Providence, RI 02909 | 401-353- 0220 | Joanne DelAngelo and Jack Haughey | JDelAngelo@fedcap.org and jhaughey@eastersealsri.org |
Frank Olean Center Inc. | 93 Airport Rd, Westerly, RI 02891 | 401-596-2091 | Brenda Burroughs and Karen Babik | bburroughs@oleancenter.org and kbabik@oleancenter.org |
Gateways to Change Inc. | 1060 Park Ave, Cranston, RI 02910 | 401-463-0000 | Monica Chadwick | mchadwick@gtcinc.org |
Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island | 100 Houghton St, Providence, RI 02904 | 401- 861-2080 | Christine Yankee, Vice President of Program Services | cyankee@goodwillri.org |
J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center | 3445 Post Rd, Warwick RI 02886 | 401-739- 2700 | Charlotte Higham | CHigham@trudeaucenter.org |
James L. Maher Center | 906 Aquidneck Ave, Middletown, RI 02842 | 401-846-4600 | Lynne Maher, Executive Director and Tristan Pennell, Director of Career Services | lmaher@mahercenter.org and tpennell.mahercenter@gmail.com |
Justice Resource Institute | 818 Dyer Ave, Cranston, RI 02920 | 401-944-5694 | Paige DiBiasio, Program Director | n/a |
Kaleidoscope Family Solutions Rhode Island, Inc. | 26 Hartford Pike, Suite 1, Scituate, RI 02857 | 267-295-2222 | Kevin Bondarek, Program Director | kbondarek@kfamilysolutions.org |
Living in Fulfilling Environments, Inc. (LIFE) | 490 Metacom Ave, Bristol, RI 02809 | 401-254-2910 | Liz Weidenhoffer | LizW@lifeincri.org |
Living Innovations | 535 Centreville Rd, Penthouse, Warwick, RI 02886 | 401-732- 0304 | Cliff Alston | CAlston@livinginnovations.com |
Looking Upwards, Inc. | 438 Eat Main Rd, Irongate 11, Middletown, RI 02842 | 401-847- 0960 | Val McHugh (children’s services) and Jodi Merryman (adult services) | vmchugh@lookingupwards.org and JMerryman@lookingupwards.org |
Opportunities Unlimited for People with Differing Abilities | 1 Worthington Rd, Cranston, RI 02920 | 401-942-9044 | Linda Ward, Executive Director | lward@oppunlim.com |
Perspectives Corporation | 1130 Ten Rod Rd, Building B, Suite 101, North Kingstown, RI 02852 | 401-294-3990 | Adrienne Tipple | ATipple@perspectivescorporation.com |
Refocus Inc. | 45 Greeley ST, Providence, RI 02904-2214 | 401-272-1600 | Melissa Hawes | mhawes@ReFocusinc.org |
Rhode Island Community Living and Supports (RICLAS) | Pastore Complex, Building #61, 14 West Rd, Cranston, RI 02920 | Phone: 401-462-2180 | Erin Perron, Program Administrator | n/a |
Seven Hills Rhode Island | 68 Cumberland St, Woonsocket, RI 02895 | 401-597-6700 | Melissa Charpentier | mcharpentier@sevenhills.org |
Spurwink RI | One Spurwink Place, Cranston, RI 02910 | 401-781-4380 | Marianne Maciel | mamaciel@spurwinkri.org |
The Arc of Blackstone Valley | 500 Prospect St, Pawtucket, RI 02861 | 401-727-0150 | Scott Brousseau | sbrousseau@bvcriarc.org |
The Arc of Bristol County Inc D/B/A Proability | 25 Thurber Boulevard, Smithfield, RI 02917 | 401-233-1634 | Melissa Melvin and Alisha Tillinghast | mmelvin@proability.org and atillinghast@proability.org |
The C.O.V.E. Center Inc. | 610 Manton Ave, Providence, RI 02909 | 401-274-6310 | Brian Holt and George Wright | bholt@covecenter.org and gwright@covecenter.org |
The Fogarty Center | 310 Maple Ave, Suite 102, Barrington, RI 02806 | 401-353-7000 | Kie O’Donnell and Jackie Miller | kodonnell@fogartycenter.org and jmiller@fogartycenter.org |
Town of Coventry Project Friends | 1372 Main St, Coventry, RI 02816 | 401-822- 9127 | Bob Robillard | rrobillard@coventryri.org |
United Cerebral Palsy of Rhode Island | 200 Main St, Suite 210, Pawtucket, RI 02862 | 401-728-1800 | Bob Winters | rwinters@ucpri.org |
West Bay RI Inc. | 158 Knight St, Warwick, RI 02886 | 401-738-9300 | Sue Raposo (adult services) and Timothy Lucason (youth services) | sraposo@westbayri.org and tlucason@westbayri.org |
Whitmarsh House | 1055 North Main St, Providence, RI 02904 | 401-351-7230 | Claudette Gillheeney (Programs), Lauren Johnson (Administration) and Katherine Brinkman (Administration) | cgillheeney@whitmarshcorp.org, ljohnson@whitmarshcorp.org, kbrinkman@whitmarshcorp.org |
Work Inc. | 121 Bacon St, Pawtucket, RI 02860 | 401-475-4232 | Lasbat Waheed, Director of Employment service | lwaheed@workinc.org |
Work Opportunities Unlimited Contracts Inc. | Two Regency Plaza, Suite 15, Providence, RI 02903 | 401-521-4600 | Trish Wagner | TWagner@WorkOpportunities.net |
The Division held an information session in 2022. This session focused on two things:
- How to apply for services and supports.
- What services and supports people can join after high school.
Session resources are:
The Division also held Parent/Student-Provider Chat Meetings in 2022. Resources from these meetings are:
- 3/24/22 Meeting. Agencies were West Bay RI, J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center, Work Opportunities Unlimited. The video passcode is: YdVJt8^u
- 4/7/22 meeting with ProAbility, Seven Hills of RI, and Action Based Enterprises (ABE).
- 4/28/22 meeting. Agencies were The Fogarty Center, Perspectives Corporation, and Goodwill of Southern New England.
- 5/11/22 meeting with the Maher Center, Frank Olean Center, and Looking Upwards.
BHDDH's Mental Health Team made a guide to behavioral health. This guide focuses on youth moving into adult behavioral health services. Learn more on the Healthy Transitions and Behavioral Health Guide for Young Adults website.
To learn more, visit these websites:
- Pacer Center
- Charting the Life Course
- Rhode Island Department of Education
- Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN)
- Link With Your Community Guide: visit this webpage for a copy of RIPIN's community guide. The guide shares details about activities to enjoy, meet new people, and reach new goals.
- Sherlock Center Introduction to Self-Directed Supports
This webpage was updated 8/19/25.