This is The Arc of Northern BristolCounty’s Rhode Island dba or
“doing business as” name in
Rhode Island. We currently serve
individuals with developmental
disabilities who live in Lincoln, Cumberland, and Providence, Rhode Island. We are a division of The Arc of Northern Bristol County, a non-profit 501©3 organization that serves 1,200 children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families in twelve cities and towns in the Massachusetts Northern Bristol County Area.
proAbility provides family support, residential and employment services for adults with developmental disabilities who live in northern Rhode Island. Named for its focus on Ability, proAbility began in February of 2005 to serve individuals who had been served for many years by The Arc but wanted to move to Rhode Island. Because The Arc of Northern Bristol County had developed some very good, long-term relationships with these families and individuals, and they were moving right over the border to our neighboring state of Rhode Island, The Arc of Northern Bristol County applied become licensed in Rhode Island to continue to serve these folks.
Once we became licensed to provide family support and residential services in Rhode Island, we discovered there was a greater need. As all of our services are designed to assist individuals, they are not restrained by the needs of particular programs or bricks and mortar, such as group homes and facility based services are. proAbilty provides staff support to assist individuals who live in their own apartments, houses, or family homes. As this is a more individualized and cost-effective approach, many more referrals have since been made to us by the Rhode Island Division of Developmental Services. proAbility now provides residential supports for 15 people and their families, and our referrals continue to grow. We expect to be serving over 30 individuals with residential supports within the next year. Additionally, our staff members are successfully finding jobs for individuals as well, and we look forward to expanding these services, too. Two individuals have been successfully employed within the last month. We look forward to using this individualized approach to support people with developmental disabilities to find and keep jobs, too. We also provide supportive services for families.
Our proAbility office was originally housed in downtown Providence on Dorrance Street, but moved to 3469 Mendon Road, Cumberland, Rhode Island on May 1, 2006. There, we have more room to expand, and to also offer educational and life enrichment classes in computers, arts and crafts, cooking, nutrition, painting, self-advocacy and human rights, social activities, and more. Called the "proAbility Center for Community Connections," a wide array of exciting possibilities will soon be available for folks to enjoy with friends, families, and community members. This space houses our proAbility headquarters and office, too, and offers the opportunity to serve many more people, both with and without disabilities, in an inclusive educational and life enriching environment. The new proAbility Center for Community Connections will provide classes ranging from painting, poetry, creative writing, arts and crafts, dance, and floral arranging, to computer education, basic GED, literacy, math, life skills including money management, cooking, health education, physical fitness, and nutrition. Classes will be offered to people of all abilities, to enjoy together. We will be happy to invite community members to volunteer to teach a class, or to just enjoy a class together with people who have disabilities.
proAbility is also hiring staff at the present time to help support the individuals in our residential and day services. To apply online, click here