“It’s so important that we bring awareness to the fact that folks in our programs need the same things and have the same wants and dreams as everybody else.”
CRANSTON — When asked what song he likes to sing at karaoke, Donald will probably tell you that he loves the heavy metal banger “We’re Not Gonna Take It!” by Twisted Sister.
That’s the tune he performed like a rock star with his friends from the AccessPoint Glee Club. His roommate, Al, chose a more traditional hit, Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes.”
The Glee Club is one of the many enrichment programs offered by AccessPoint RI, a nonprofit organization that provides supportive services for more than 650 adults with developmental disabilities and children with a myriad of needs.
The music group performed as part of Accesspoint RI’s celebration of Disabilities Pride Month in July which marked the 36th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by President George H. W. Bush.
Simply stated, the legislation prohibits discrimination based on disability. It also requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, and imposes accessibility requirements on public accommodations. The law’s passage was groundbreaking for the disability movement and organizations like AccessPoint RI, which began operations in 1965.
The milestone was marked by a variety of festivities, including the premiere of the movie “Horsegirls,” about a young woman with autism growing up and becoming an independent adult, an art show at the Cranston Public Library, and an ice cream fundraiser at Ben & Jerry’s in Garden City.
Jennifer McAuslin, Director of Development with AccessPoint RI, talked about the landmark occasion, saying: “It was our first year to recognize the passage of the ADA. It’s so important that we bring awareness to the fact that folks in our programs need the same things and have the same wants and dreams as everybody else.”
She added, “They’re all out there doing really cool stuff, and any opportunity that we have to celebrate that and highlight that and make that a part of our community is really important.”
Beyond Disability Pride Month, AccessPoint RI is busy all year long delivering services throughout the state to individuals ranging in age from three to 84.
The overarching mission of AccessPoint RI is to provide people with opportunities to live their best lives, to empower them in a way that is so meaningful to them individually.
McAuslin clarified: “We have over fifty-nine different types of programs and no two people receive the same combination because it’s all about finding the right care and the right opportunity for them to do whatever it is that they want to do.”
For young people, there is the Cornerstone day school, a year-round, nonpublic special education school with an inclusive early childhood program for children of all abilities.
Adult day programs provide support in the transition from school to adulthood and beyond as participants continue to be engaged in their community through work or other activities.
Perhaps most significantly, AccessPoint RI coordinates services through 10 residential group homes, offering various living environments for individuals of differing abilities.
Donald, AccessPoint RI’s resident rock star, is an example of someone who has participated in and benefited from many of the opportunities available through the organization. In his sixties, Donald currently resides at one of the organization’s group homes with three other men, Peter, Ricky and Al, all of whom he considers his friends.
The group home setting is designed for individuals who need support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Residents receive assistance with daily living skills such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting, as well as clinical and medical support.
For 26 years, Donald worked in housekeeping at Naval Station Newport, but he’s proud to share that he’s now retired. A graduate of AccessPoint RI’s Workforce Training program, Donald enjoyed his employment but he’s also happy to have more time to himself.
Continuing his participation in supportive services programs, Donald enjoys trips out into the community, especially to Dunkin’ Donuts. When he returns home, he loves to play games with his roommates but he also has chores and responsibilities to complete like taking out the trash and helping maintain the household. According to Donald, everyone pitches in.
Donald is also involved in Special Olympics and, as an athlete his whole life, he recently started coaching students at the Cornerstone school in basketball and soccer. It’s something he was looking forward to doing now that he has more free time during his retirement.
“Donald, like other folks in our programs,” McAuslin shared,”needs the same things and has the same wants and dreams as everybody else.”
Having served the community for more than 61 years, AccessPoint RI has countless success stories to tell. McAuslin highlighted a few recent examples: A group in the adult day program traveled to Disney World in Florida. Two residents were married and plan to celebrate in the fall. A newer initiative, Shared Living, provides the opportunity for an individual with special needs to live with a person or family under the same roof.
McAuslin was thrilled to take on the role of Director of Development a little under a year ago. It was a new role created for the organization as the Board of Directors recognized the need to grow and expand their services.
The activities that she engages in every day are closely intertwined with her life outside of the workplace. “My sister has cerebral palsy. My husband works with adults with disabilities. So [this position] was really tied in really close to my why.”
McAuslin knows from personal experience that navigating the world of differing abilities is challenging and it can be isolating. She wants to make sure that people with disabilities feel a sense of community and belonging, and that their caregivers do as well.
McAuslin said her greatest priority is increasing funding for AccessPoint RI. Medicare and Medicaid support some of the basic services that participants receive, but more resources are needed to elevate their care to the level of dignity and respect they deserve.
“We are always looking for donations from individuals to enrich the lives of our participants, whether we’re acquiring new furniture for our residences, buying tickets to the movies or purchasing uniforms for our Special Olympics team,” she said. “These additional dollars provide a lot of the extras that we all take for granted.”
Her biggest challenge at the moment is raising money for the complete overhaul of the HVAC system at their Cranston campus on Dyer Avenue. The building is 60 years old and has the original HVAC and ductwork from six decades ago. It’s time for a much needed upgrade, she said, declaring that “There are rooms that have major issues with heat circulation and cool air, and you pair that with some of our people having medical diagnoses where they have difficulty regulating their body temperature, and it’s a dangerous situation.”
In addition to seeking funding, McAuslin is always on the lookout for volunteers who want to pitch in and lend a hand. She will find a way to accommodate anyone who wants to contribute their time and talent and is particularly interested in bringing in corporate and business partners.
“We can fit anybody, any size group because we have so many different programs,” she said. “We really work with the person or the group of people that are interested in volunteering to find the right fit for them and the right fit for our individuals.”
AccessPoint RI recently hosted employee volunteers from Bank of America, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, and Cox Communications.
“The volunteers had so much fun,” McAuslin said. “The individuals in our programs also had so much fun. It was amazing to see them all come together.”
She adds, “There are so many different ways that we can partner with individuals or businesses so we can find the right fit for everybody.”
AccessPoint RI also partners with other community-based organizations to offer additional enrichment opportunities for the individuals in their care.
Shri Yoga in Pawtucket is one example. For more than a decade, the two nonprofits have been collaborating by offering adaptive yoga classes at group homes and more recently training students to be employed as yoga instructors.
Alison Bologna, Shri’s Founder and Executive Director, said: “What makes this partnership so special is that we share a belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to feel connected, confident, and empowered. And sometimes, that opportunity can open a much bigger door.”
And that door, like many passages that have been opened for individuals through AccessPoint RI, leads to an opportunity for them to discover a pathway to success and independence.
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that AccessPoint RI serves 350. It actually serves 650.
