The R3 App
The R3 app is designed to help people with disabilities Recognize, Report, and Respond to abuse.
About the R3 App
R3 was designed and developed by the ASSET Lab at the University of Rhode Island for the DPPC and its partners, including self-advocates from Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong, the University of Rhode Island, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services.
The R3 app was designed with input from people with disabilities, including intellectual or developmental disabilities, from the very beginning. First, the project team conducted focus groups with people with disabilities to learn more about how they use technology and whether they thought an app would be helpful. Then, as the app was being designed, the developers used a co-design process where they (virtually) sat with individuals and walked them through different versions of the app and got the individuals’ thoughts in real time. Throughout the process, the team’s self-advocate consultants provided crucial feedback on issues like development, images, and text.
How to download the app
Download the app on the Apple store
Download the app on the Amazon Appstore
Detailed Instructions:
- Here’s a step-by-step manual (PDF) l (DOCX) on how to install R3 from the Amazon app store on an Android tablet.
- Here’s a step-by-step manual (PDF) l (DOCX) on how to install R3 from the Amazon app store on an Android phone.
- Here is a video tutorial on how to install R3 from the Amazon app store on an Android tablet.
- Here is a video tutorial on how to install R3 from the Amazon app store on an Android phone.
- Android users must use an Amazon account to download the app. Here’s a video tutorial on how to create an Amazon account.
Provide feedback on the app
If you have thoughts about the app, or ideas about ways we can make it better, please contact DPPC at DPPCapps@mass.gov.
Report suspected abuse by calling DPPC’s 24-hour Hotline at 1-800-426-9009. Deaf and Hard of Hearing callers, please use Video Relay Services (VRS) or MassRelay (711) to contact the DPPC Hotline.
R3 project team and partners
R3 project team
University of Rhode Island
- Emiton Alves
- Liam Cannon
- Thomas Fragnoli
- Thomas Howard III
- Jack Lanoie
- Jenna Sasson
- Alexander Sinapi
- Mary Wishart
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Natalia Carvajal Erker
- Alis Iannacchione
- Nicole Jutras
- Mariam Kobeissi
- Anish Nakahara
- Lara Padir
- Malvina Piziak
- Rain Smallcomb
- Rachelle Wailes
Learn more about the Awareness & Action training
The R3 app is based on a curriculum called Awareness and Action (A&A). The A&A training was developed by the Building Partnerships for the Protection of Persons with Disabilities and Older Adults Initiative with many other stakeholders, including DPPC, persons with disabilities, instructional designers, and service-providing agencies. It is an in-person curriculum that is team taught by people with and without disabilities. The A&A training educates persons with disabilities as well as others on recognizing, reporting, and responding to common types of abuse.
Click here to learn more about the A&A training or to request a training or click here to watch a video about A&A training.
How other states can adapt R3 for their jurisdiction
If your state has a software developer who can assist in adapting the code of the R3 app and customizing it by adding your state’s APS contact information, please email DPPCapps@mass.gov for assistance.
Funding information
The R3 project was supported by a grant (No. 90EJSG0015-01-00) from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $668,777.53 with 100% funded by ACL/DHHS. Grantees carrying out projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Therefore, the points of view or opinions do not necessarily represent official ACL or DHHS policy. The R3 project is based in significant part on the Awareness & Action (A&A) training designed by the Building Partnership for the Protections of Persons with Disabilities and Older Adults Initiative (BPI), the Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC), persons with disabilities, and others to teach people with intellectual or developmental disabilities about recognizing, reporting, and responding to abuse. The A&A curriculum development was funded in 2007 by grant no. 2007-VF-GX-K035 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view in the A&A or R3 materials are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. Department of Justice.
If you suspect or observe abuse or neglect of a person with a disability, report to the DPPC by calling the 24-hour Hotline or by submitting an abuse report online.
1-800-426-9009TTY 711