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Providing Accessible and Effective Services to Survivors of Sexual Assault with Disabilities

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and in support of survivors everywhere, we dedicated this month’s End Abuse of People with Disabilities webinar to lifting up promising practices for serving survivors …
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Providing Accessible and Effective Services to Survivors of Sexual Assault with Disabilities

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and in support of survivors everywhere, we dedicated this month’s End Abuse of People with Disabilities webinar to lifting up promising practices for serving survivors with disabilities. The webinar featured a panel comprised of a survivor with a disability, a national expert, and a local advocate, this webinar explored the unique barriers that people with disabilities have to navigate when seeking healing and the strategies that advocates can employ to proactively remove those barriers. The panelists provided practical guidance from their own experience to help you ensure that survivors with disabilities feel respected and supported within your programs

Panelists, Cathy Saunders, Self-Advocate with Illinois Imagines, Cierra Olivia Thomas-Williams, Prevention Specialist at Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Heidi Sue LeBoeuf, Counseling Director at Pathways For Change and facilitator Sandra Harrell, Associate Director, Center on Victimization and Safety led this discussion.
A Conversation on Serving Deaf Survivors

Deaf individuals in the U.S. experience rates of domestic and/or sexual violence equal to or higher than hearing individuals, with emerging research pointing to rates twice that of hearing individuals. …
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A Conversation on Serving Deaf Survivors

Deaf individuals in the U.S. experience rates of domestic and/or sexual violence equal to or higher than hearing individuals, with emerging research pointing to rates twice that of hearing individuals. From 911 systems that only take phone calls to victim service providers not providing American Sign Language interpreters, Deaf survivors routinely face barriers when reaching out for help. Through this conversation with Deaf advocates, you will gain insight into the experiences of Deaf survivors, get a better understanding of the barriers they encounter, and practical information on how to better meet the needs of Deaf survivors.
One Year Later: Reflections on Sustaining Services for Survivors with Disabilities During COVID-19

The past year has brought unprecedented challenges and evolving landscapes for all of us. For those who were already underserved – such as survivors with disabilities – COVID-19 amplified the …
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One Year Later: Reflections on Sustaining Services for Survivors with Disabilities During COVID-19

The past year has brought unprecedented challenges and evolving landscapes for all of us. For those who were already underserved – such as survivors with disabilities – COVID-19 amplified the barriers that exist to have their healing and justice support needs met, and further increased their experiences of isolation. Providers have leveraged their creativity, flexibility and relationships to adapt and ensure that survivors with disabilities were able to sustain services during this difficult time.

In this panel discussion, participants will hear from providers on the strategies they used to sustain services to survivors with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Panelists will also explore the enduring challenges survivors with disabilities face as this health crisis continues, and their hopes for the future.

Vera Institute of Justice
People with Disabilities COVID-19 Survivor Impact Brief

The Center on Victimization and Safety hosted three listening sessions on COVID-19 and its impact on survivors with disabilities. From these listening sessions, we created a COVID-19 Survivor Impact Brief …
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People with Disabilities COVID-19 Survivor Impact Brief

The Center on Victimization and Safety hosted three listening sessions on COVID-19 and its impact on survivors with disabilities. From these listening sessions, we created a COVID-19 Survivor Impact Brief that summarize the issues and strategies that emerged.

Vera Institute of Justice
Tips for Working with Remote Sign Language Interpreters

This resource includes accessibility tips to consider for virtual events and engagements. Consider language and disability accessibility needs for all virtual meetings. This Tip Sheet includes information about: Securing qualified …
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Tips for Working with Remote Sign Language Interpreters

This resource includes accessibility tips to consider for virtual events and engagements. Consider language and disability accessibility needs for all virtual meetings.
This Tip Sheet includes information about:
Securing qualified sign language interpreters;
Preparing interpreters for the virtual event;
Preparing presenters to work with interpreters;
Setting up the technology;
Managing issues during the virtual event; and
Checking in after the virtual event.

Vera Institute of Justice
How Safe are Americans with Disabilities?

While people with disabilities make up nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population, they remain largely invisible to society at large, and victim response systems in particular. And despite growing public …
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How Safe are Americans with Disabilities?

While people with disabilities make up nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population, they remain largely invisible to society at large, and victim response systems in particular. And despite growing public awareness of violent victimization, it excludes the victimization of people with disabilities, who are at particular risk of serious violent crime, including rape, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. As victims, people with disabilities face formidable barriers to getting related support.

This brief provides basic information on disability in the United States. It explores what is known about violent victimization of people with disabilities and the factors that contribute to their higher risk of experiencing violent crime. It also explains the obstacles people with disabilities encounter when seeking access to the services and supports they need to heal. Finally, it stresses the limits of existing victim-service, human-service, and criminal justice systems, policies, and practices in responding to violence against people with disabilities.

Vera Institute of Justice
Zoom Meeting Tip Sheet

Zoom is a video conferencing platform that allows us to interact virtually. Zoom allows us to connect face-to-face, work on documents collaboratively, share PowerPoint slides, view websites, watch videos together, …
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Zoom Meeting Tip Sheet

Zoom is a video conferencing platform that allows us to interact
virtually. Zoom allows us to connect face-to-face, work on documents
collaboratively, share PowerPoint slides, view websites, watch videos together, and more. This resource includes accessibility tips to consider for Zoom virtual events and engagements. Consider language and disability accessibility needs for all virtual meetings.

Vera Institute of Justice
Accessibility Tip Sheet for Virtual Meetings and Events

This resource includes accessibility tips to consider for virtual events and engagements. Consider language and disability accessibility needs for all virtual meetings.

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Accessibility Tip Sheet for Virtual Meetings and Events

This resource includes accessibility tips to consider for virtual events and engagements. Consider language and disability accessibility needs for all virtual meetings.

Vera Institute of Justice
Advocacy Strategies for Ensuring Access to Services and Healthcare for Survivors with Disabilities During COVID-19 and Beyond

COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting survivors with disabilities. They are more likely to contract the virus, more likely to experience severe symptoms, and less likely to receive services, including advocacy services …
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Advocacy Strategies for Ensuring Access to Services and Healthcare for Survivors with Disabilities During COVID-19 and Beyond

COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting survivors with disabilities. They are more likely to contract the virus, more likely to experience severe symptoms, and less likely to receive services, including advocacy services and health care. Now more than ever, these services provide a lifeline for survivors with disabilities and it is vital that access is maintained. In this webinar, Olga Trujilo from Caminar Latino and Kelly Israel from the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network will review strategies and best practices that advocates and people with disabilities can use to ensure access to services during COVID-19 and beyond.

Vera Institute of Justice
Technology as a Tool for Advocacy: Accessible and Safe Use of Technology to Serve Survivors with Disabilities During COVID-19 and Beyond

COVID-19 is requiring programs to rapidly adapt their advocacy for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The creative use of technology to serve survivors creates an opportunity to develop an …
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Technology as a Tool for Advocacy: Accessible and Safe Use of Technology to Serve Survivors with Disabilities During COVID-19 and Beyond

COVID-19 is requiring programs to rapidly adapt their advocacy for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The creative use of technology to serve survivors creates an opportunity to develop an approach to advocacy that can benefit survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors in the long term. As these adaptations are taking place, it is critical to ensure both the safety and accessibility of the tools being used. Thoughtful implementation of accessible technology now can permanently transform advocacy for survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors. In this webinar, Rachel Gibson of the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s Safety Net Team will review best practices for using technology to ensure that it is safe, accessible, and confidential for all.

Vera Institute of Justice