be extraordinary.

Founded in 2018, the Rhode Island Social Skills Academy (RISSA)  supports young people with special needs in the years after they transition from formal, structured educational environments and begin to navigate the complexities of  adult life.

Our experiential learning program is designed to help our members learn and practice the essential social and life skills they need to live full, rewarding, independent lives - working toward whatever goals they and their families identify. 

We are a community of friends who share meaningful educational and growth experiences together - each contributing our own individual gifts and talents to enrich the lives of fellow RISSA members and everyone we meet along the way.

Our small-group model nourishes development of authentic, meaningful friendships,  facilitates personalized instruction and mentorship, and allows space for individualized experiences that reflect members' unique needs and interests - while encouraging them to collaborate and support each other.

Based at the Newport County YMCA in Middletown, Rhode Island, we offer our members an array of educational and enrichment opportunities in our dedicated classroom space, in the community, and throughout the Y - with full access to the pool, weight training equipment, and other state-of-the-art facilities and features, including a fully-equipped kitchen and common areas. 

Among our signature offerings is our Relationships course, taught by a seasoned special education professional who is an adjunct faculty member at Salve Regina University.  The course uses guided discussion, creative role-play with puppets, and other techniques to nurture empathy, sharing, and exploration of feelings and experiences. Our Relationships course is supported by a generous grant from the John E. Fogarty Foundation.

For example, our RISSA Kitchen project - also launched with a grant from the John E. Fogarty Foundation - gives our members a fun opportunity to practice collaboration, resilience, and problem-solving while learning how to make healthy food choices and create complete, nutritious meals. Led by a registered dietitian who is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Rhode Island, RISSA Kitchen incorporates nutrition education, menu development, budgeting and shopping, cooking, and serving and table etiquette.

It's all part of RISSA's comprehensive "learning for life" curriculum. Developed and presented by a core teaching team of credentialed special education professionals and further enriched by musicians, artists, poets, yoga teachers, and other content-specific guest  faculty, our program incorporates four interrelated tracks: 

• Social Skills
• Life Skills
• Arts & Culture
• Health & Fitness

Working from our home base at the Y, we take full advantage of all that our vibrant Aquidneck Island setting has to offer - from shoreline hikes and kite-flying to visits to heritage sites to volunteering with other local nonprofits - and so much more!