Accessibility & ADA Accommodations
RISS is committed to creating a campus environment that is accessible, inclusive, and compliant with applicable ADA accessibility standards.
Individuals with physical disabilities, including wheelchair users, are welcome within the RISS community provided they are capable of independent daily living and do not require full-time caregiving support from the facility.
Accessibility is not treated as an afterthought in the campus design. It is incorporated directly into the infrastructure and operational planning of the campus itself.
Accessible Campus Design
All public buildings on the RISS campus will be designed to support accessibility and ADA-compliant access requirements wherever applicable.
This includes:
Accessible building entrances
Accessible public restrooms
Accessible pathways and circulation areas
Wheelchair-accessible common spaces
ADA-compliant parking accommodations
Accessible seating and gathering areas
The two campus buildings containing second-floor spaces will include elevator access.
In addition, several resident housing buildings will be specifically designed or configured to support accessibility needs for residents with mobility limitations.
RISS also recognizes that accessibility extends beyond buildings themselves.
At least one vehicle within the campus shuttle transportation system will be wheelchair accessible to help ensure residents with mobility limitations are able to access employment, medical appointments, educational opportunities, shopping, and other essential off-campus destinations.
Transportation accessibility is an important part of maintaining independence and reducing barriers to long-term stability.
Independent Living Requirement
While RISS welcomes residents with disabilities, the campus is not designed or staffed as an assisted living facility, nursing facility, or medical care facility.
Residents must be capable of independent daily functioning.
This includes the ability to:
Get in and out of bed independently
Transfer to and from wheelchairs without staff assistance
Dress themselves independently
Bathe and maintain personal hygiene independently
Navigate daily living activities without full-time assistance
Manage their own medical equipment and personal medical care needs
This also includes responsibility for personal medical management such as:
Medication management
Catheter care
Ostomy or medical bag maintenance
Other ongoing personal medical care tasks requiring daily attention
RISS staff are not caregivers and are not able to provide hands-on medical or personal assistance services for residents.
Outside Caregivers
Residents who are financially capable of obtaining outside caregiving assistance may be permitted to do so on a case-by-case basis.
Any outside caregiver arrangement must:
Be approved by facility administration
Be coordinated with appropriate medical guidance where necessary
Operate within established campus policies and operational procedures
Follow approved schedules, visitation parameters, and access requirements
Maintain professional conduct standards while on campus
All caregivers, aides, or support personnel authorized to enter the campus in a professional capacity will be required to complete appropriate documentation and comply with all applicable facility operational requirements.
Accessibility as Part of Community Design
RISS recognizes that justice-impacted individuals with disabilities often face additional barriers related to housing, transportation, employment, healthcare access, and community integration.
The goal of the RISS campus design is to reduce unnecessary environmental barriers wherever reasonably possible while still maintaining a community model centered on independent living and personal responsibility.
Accessibility should not be viewed as a specialized add-on.
It should be part of thoughtful infrastructure design from the beginning.
If you believe reintegration should be built intentionally, not reactively, we invite you to explore how you can help bring the RISS model to life.
