Sexual Assault

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
Meeting the Needs of Autistic Survivors

Autistic people live in a society that was not designed for them: one in which they are often forced to conceal who they are and are unable to receive the …
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Meeting the Needs of Autistic Survivors

Autistic people live in a society that was not designed for them: one in which they are often forced to conceal who they are and are unable to receive the accommodations they need. When autistic people also experience victimization, they are more likely to experience barriers to accessing services, stigma, and a fundamental misunderstanding of their needs from the systems set up for justice and healing.

This webinar, featuring Max Barrows of Green Mountain Self-Advocates and Kaitlin Shetler of the Vera Institute of Justice, addresses the barriers autistic survivors face in seeking healing services following sexual and domestic violence and ways in which service providers can better meet their needs.

Vera Institute of Justice
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
Meeting the Needs of American Indian and Alaska Native Survivors with Disabilities

During this webinar, Amanda Watson, Program Director at Praxis International, will explore ways in which programs can better understand the cultural implications of working with AI/AN survivors with disabilities and …
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Meeting the Needs of American Indian and Alaska Native Survivors with Disabilities

During this webinar, Amanda Watson, Program Director at Praxis International, will explore ways in which programs can better understand the cultural implications of working with AI/AN survivors with disabilities and provide guidance on strategies for best serving them.

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
Removing Barriers Following Sexual Assault: Sexual Assault Forensic Exams for Survivors with Disabilities

There are many barriers for survivors of sexual assault who are seeking sexual assault medical forensic exam services to overcome- regardless of abilities. Those challenges can be compounded when the …
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Removing Barriers Following Sexual Assault: Sexual Assault Forensic Exams for Survivors with Disabilities

There are many barriers for survivors of sexual assault who are seeking sexual assault medical forensic exam services to overcome- regardless of abilities. Those challenges can be compounded when the survivor has a disability. Service providers and medical professionals can help facilitate the process by ensuring an accessible process for all survivors. This webinar will review the unique needs of survivors with disabilities and best practices for completing sexual assault exams to ensure a safe and accessible experience for all.
Our presenters for this webinar will be Kim Day and Angelita Olowu. Kim Day RN, SANE-A, SANE-P is the Forensic Nursing Director at the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN). Angelita Olowu BSN, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P is a forensic nurse with 12 years of nursing experience. Angelita is currently working as a Forensic Nursing Specialist at the International Association of Forensic Nurses. (IAFN).

Vera Institute of Justice
Interviewing Survivors with Disabilities

Survivors of sexual violence with disabilities have unique needs when being interviewed as part of a criminal justice response. It is important that interviews balance a trauma informed approach with …
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Interviewing Survivors with Disabilities

Survivors of sexual violence with disabilities have unique needs when being interviewed as part of a criminal justice response. It is important that interviews balance a trauma informed approach with accessibility. Incorporating a trauma informed approach helps to reduce the possibility of revictimization. Ensuring that the interview is accessible may mean shorter interviews, interviews at alternative locations, or other modifications. This webinar will provide an overview of best practices for interviewing survivors with disabilities to ensure that interviews are safe and accessible for all survivors with disabilities.

Vera Institute of Justice
Autonomy is Safety: Using Supported Decision-Making to Facilitate the Safety of People with Disabilities

People with disabilities are more likely to experience domestic and sexual violence than people without disabilities. Society has traditionally responded to this increased likelihood of violence by limiting the choices …
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Autonomy is Safety: Using Supported Decision-Making to Facilitate the Safety of People with Disabilities

People with disabilities are more likely to experience domestic and sexual violence than people without disabilities. Society has traditionally responded to this increased likelihood of violence by limiting the choices that people with disabilities can make, using strategies such as institutionalization, mandatory reporting, and guardianship. Limiting the amount of autonomy people with disabilities have, however, has actually increased their risk of victimization. Alternatively, providing people with disabilities with control over their own lives empowers them and better facilitates their safety. This webinar will outline the problems with historic responses to violence against people with disabilities and review supportive strategies that can be applied to help people with disabilities live safer, more autonomous lives.

Vera Institute of Justice
Measuring Success: Using the Indicators for Disability Grant Program Grantees

This webinar provides an overview of the Performance Indicators to assist organizations in measuring their capacity and commitment to serve survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors.

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Measuring Success: Using the Indicators for Disability Grant Program Grantees

This webinar provides an overview of the Performance Indicators to assist organizations in measuring their capacity and commitment to serve survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors.

Vera Institute of Justice
Addressing Trauma in the Lives of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Trauma can have a lasting effect on a person’s mental, emotional, and even physical states. When a person has an intellectual or developmental disability, the impact of trauma can be …
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Addressing Trauma in the Lives of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Trauma can have a lasting effect on a person’s mental, emotional, and even physical states. When a person has an intellectual or developmental disability, the impact of trauma can be even more pronounced and unique methods for addressing the trauma are necessary. This webinar will explore the complicated manifestation of trauma in individuals with I/DD who have experienced domestic and/or sexual violence, as well as techniques for supporting survivors with intellectual and developmental disabilities experiencing trauma to facilitate the healing process.

Vera Institute of Justice