Sensory Disabilities

Understanding and Reaching Formerly Incarcerated Survivors with Disabilities

People with disabilities are over-represented in our nation’s jails and prisons. And, most people who serve time in jail or prison were victims of some type of harm or abuse …
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Understanding and Reaching Formerly Incarcerated Survivors with Disabilities

People with disabilities are over-represented in our nation’s jails and prisons. And, most people who serve time in jail or prison were victims of some type of harm or abuse before they were convicted of a crime. This means that every year, many survivors with disabilities are returning to the community after a period of incarceration. When they come home, these survivors carry both the trauma of suffering violence and the burden of intense stigma that comes both from having spent time incarcerated and having a disability. This stigma can create real barriers to reentry, healing, and disability services. In this webinar, Allison Hastings and Kaitlin Kall of The Vera Institute of Justice discuss the impact of incarceration on people with disabilities, the victimization experiences of people who have a history of incarceration, and barriers to services for formerly incarcerated survivors with disabilities.

Vera Institute of Justice
Serving Survivors who Have Service Animals

Service animals are vital to some survivors with disabilities. They can provide independence and mobility and truly act as partners to their handlers. However, domestic violence shelters and other residential …
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Serving Survivors who Have Service Animals

Service animals are vital to some survivors with disabilities. They can provide independence and mobility and truly act as partners to their handlers. However, domestic violence shelters and other residential programs might struggle with how to: 1) interact with service animals; and 2) balance the presence of service animals with needs of other survivors. This webinar will review some of the complexities and provide guidance on how best to balance the needs of service users when a survivor has a service animal.

CVS Program Associate Ashley Brompton will be the presenter for this webinar. CVS Program Associate Jennifer Decker will be a guest presenter.

Vera Institute of Justice
Alternative Text: A Brief Introduction

In this video, we discuss Alternative Text: what it is, and why it matters for survivors with disabilities. We demonstrate how to add alternative text to images and other visual …
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Alternative Text: A Brief Introduction

In this video, we discuss Alternative Text: what it is, and why it matters for survivors with disabilities. We demonstrate how to add alternative text to images and other visual elements to make web-based and electronic materials accessible for survivors with disabilities.

Vera Institute of Justice
Plain Language: A Brief Introduction

In this video, we discuss plain language and why it matters for survivors with disabilities. We explain how we can communicate using plain language, and share some examples of plain …
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Plain Language: A Brief Introduction

In this video, we discuss plain language and why it matters for survivors with disabilities. We explain how we can communicate using plain language, and share some examples of plain language. Finally, we demonstrate how to use tools to determine if a written document is using plain language.

Vera Institute of Justice
Organizing Information: Introduction to Reading Order

In this video, we explain the importance of organizing information accessibly in web-based and electronic materials for survivors with disabilities. We define reading order, and explain why it matters for …
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Organizing Information: Introduction to Reading Order

In this video, we explain the importance of organizing information accessibly in web-based and electronic materials for survivors with disabilities. We define reading order, and explain why it matters for accessibility. Finally, we demonstrate how to use Microsoft Office to create accessible reading order.

Vera Institute of Justice
Accessible Font: A Brief Introduction

In this video, we discuss font style, size, and line spacing, and why these accessibility elements matter for survivors. We share some examples of accessible and inaccessible fonts. Finally, we …
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Accessible Font: A Brief Introduction

In this video, we discuss font style, size, and line spacing, and why these accessibility elements matter for survivors. We share some examples of accessible and inaccessible fonts. Finally, we explain the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAGs) for font style and size.

Vera Institute of Justice
Leveraging Worldwide Perspectives on Serving Survivors with Disabilities

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and other international laws provide an international framework for serving survivors with disabilities safely and accessibly. Anastasia Holoboff and her …
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Leveraging Worldwide Perspectives on Serving Survivors with Disabilities

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and other international laws provide an international framework for serving survivors with disabilities safely and accessibly. Anastasia Holoboff and her team studied the practices of programs around the world, including the United States, spoke to global experts at the intersection of violence and disability, and documented their findings in a groundbreaking report, Guidelines for Providing Rights-Based and Gender-Responsive Services to Address Gender-Based Violence and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. In this webinar, Ms. Holoboff will review the guidelines the team developed and highlight the lessons that agencies in the United States can learn from agencies around the world.

Vera Institute of Justice
Color Contrast: A Brief Introduction

In this video, we describe color contrast, and why it matters for disability access. We explain the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAGs) for using color and for color contrast. Finally, …
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Color Contrast: A Brief Introduction

In this video, we describe color contrast, and why it matters for disability access. We explain the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAGs) for using color and for color contrast. Finally, we demonstrate tools for determining color contrast ratios.

Vera Institute of Justice
Providing Accessible Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Who are Blind or Have Low Vision

Blind survivors face unique barriers when seeking services after experiencing domestic or sexual violence. These barriers can impact intake, service provision, and referrals. They may include a lack of materials …
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Providing Accessible Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Who are Blind or Have Low Vision

Blind survivors face unique barriers when seeking services after experiencing domestic or sexual violence. These barriers can impact intake, service provision, and referrals. They may include a lack of materials available in screen reader accessible format or Braille, a lack of understanding about the unique dynamics of violence in the lives of Blind survivors, a lack of accessible support groups, and other obstacles. This webinar will help domestic and sexual assault service providers understand how to best serve Blind survivors and explore strategies for increasing the accessibility of their services.

Vera Institute of Justice
Violence Against People with Disabilities and Deaf People 101

Research has shown that some people with disabilities experience increased risk of domestic and sexual violence compared to people without disabilities and that those that do experience such violence reported …
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Violence Against People with Disabilities and Deaf People 101

Research has shown that some people with disabilities experience increased risk of domestic and sexual violence compared to people without disabilities and that those that do experience such violence reported a larger number of perpetrators and a greater duration of violence. In this webinar, Vera staff will explore some of the unique complexities of violence against people with disabilities and Deaf people, barriers to access to effective criminal justice and victim services responses for survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors, and opportunities for change in the field. The webinar will provide foundational information we will build on throughout the year as we continue to explore some of the particular areas of interest at the intersection of violence and disability

Vera Institute of Justice