Community Provider Network of RI

1 person has shown that people with disabilities can create a new song in 90 minutes. And they do it every week. Here’s how: 🎤 Mark Cutler - A Rhode Island Hall of Fame musician created The Same Thing Project years ago. He left his safe software job for a career in music. Now he is changing lives. 🎶 Lyrics - Every verse comes from the group. Topics range from ice cream, the weather and what we love. Mark asks questions and the group responds with their experiences. ❓Indescribable - It’s hard to put into words this third part. We went to a recent group and quickly realized that this is much more than music. It is something we all need. You might just have to see it to understand what we are talking about. Their new album is now available on Spotify!

Jason Mraz (2-time GRAMMY winner) performed a sensory-friendly concert. We were there for an EXCLUSIVE interview with Jason and to capture the memorable night. 🎶 A special thank you to The Autism Project for organizing the concert and our #interview with Jason. One organization and one person created lifelong memories. 💚

Being a leader is a choice. Last year, Walmart tested sensory-friendly hours. Now, they have hours at every store in the US. 💚 This means lights are dimmed, TVs show static images and radios are turned off. What you may not realize is that walking into a retail store can be sensory overload. Loud sounds, bright lights and TVs flashing images everywhere is overwhelming to many. Walmart realized and addressed the needs of their customers. #Leadership in action. 💪

When you invest in the future of children it has real results. When Adam was 10 he was diagnosed with Autism. He received support from specialized workers for five years. Now, the boy who struggled to leave his parents side has traveled the world with a dream of being on Broadway. And he is getting close! 🎭 Adam says he is a “brand new Adam” and he is reaching new heights. This is the story of a child with autism receiving support from an entire community and his journey to give back. 💚 Thank you Seven Hills Foundation for supporting Adam and letting us share this story.

Hiring people with disabilities empowers people like Brenda to grow. She has been a valued team member at Home Depot for 4 years. 💪 Her co-workers recently celebrated Brenda’s dedication with flowers and balloons. Brenda works in the gardening section seasonally and loves her job. 💚 Another reminder that inclusive workplaces create a productive #workforce.

Victoria’s son is nonverbal and autistic. She struggled to communicate and out of frustration her son would bite. “I was terrified, I felt like life was hopeless.” Then she turned to support from The Groden Network "Your Autism Experts". After years of hard #work, Marty has grown. He now communicates with an iPad and his funny personality has shown through. 💚 “What they do works,” says Victoria. Marty is just one of the thousands of children whose lives are transformed by dedicated workers. 💪 Join us in celebrating the incredible impact of disability services:

Explaining human services can be complex and confusing. For the 1 in 6 families who are raising a child with a developmental disability or delay, exploring support options can be overwhelming. 😔 That’s why we created a clear, accessible guide to demystify children services. We are proud to share with you 'Pathways to Possibilities' produced in collaboration with The Groden Network "Your Autism Experts", Momentum and the Frank Olean Center. Together let’s explore the possibilities of every child’s future. 💚

This is the result of investing in human services. Meet Adam. He has autism and is on a mission to break boundaries in theater. 🎭 And his #resume is impressive: He has managed off-broadway shows and served as a production manager for Monster Jam. But it hasn't always been this way. When Adam was diagnosed with autism, he struggled to make eye contact or do anything without his parents. He then received five years of support from Seven Hills RI. “I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for those workers.” We will have more of Adam’s story next week and you won’t want to miss it. 👀

When a two-time GRAMMY WINNER supports inclusion. 🤩 Jason Mraz performed a sensory-friendly show in Providence. The show included dimmed lights, lower sound, a break room and attendees were free to walk around. “If we can customize the arts to be more inclusive for all then hopefully we can reach every human being.” - Jason Mraz The show was organized by The Autism Project. Thank you Jason for showing everyone what an #inclusive concert looks like. 💚

We dream of a world where everyone is included. There has been SO much #progress for disability inclusion in recent years. There is still so much work to be done and it starts with a choice. Inclusion is a decision we can all make. Let’s do it together. 💚