Vera Institute of Justice

Planning and Hosting Accessible Webinars

Webinars are a great option for sharing information and providing training for those working to address domestic and sexual violence against people with disabilities. These types of virtual sessions are …
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Planning and Hosting Accessible Webinars

Webinars are a great option for sharing information and providing training for those working to address domestic and sexual violence against people with disabilities. These types of virtual sessions are cost-effective, allowing you to host multiple trainings, thus reaching more people, and participants can join in without having to travel. Webinars are also an accessible means of reaching people with disabilities and Deaf people because they can attend from anywhere. However, to ensure that people with disabilities and Deaf people can fully engage and benefit from the content, you should consider several best practices for developing accessible webinars.

Vera Institute of Justice
Working with Sign Language Interpreters for Events Tip Sheet

Communication access is essential to any event, but especially those with Deaf or hard of hearing participants. Most events with Deaf or hard of hearing participants achieve effective communication through …
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Working with Sign Language Interpreters for Events Tip Sheet

Communication access is essential to any event, but especially those with Deaf or hard of hearing participants. Most events with Deaf or hard of hearing participants achieve effective communication through the help of qualified sign language interpreters.

Vera Institute of Justice
Creating an Accessible Meeting Environment Tip Sheet

The environment you create for an event sets the tone for participants’ overall experience. Event planners help set this tone by determining the set-up of meeting rooms, the look and …
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Creating an Accessible Meeting Environment Tip Sheet

The environment you create for an event sets the tone for participants’ overall experience. Event planners help set this tone by determining the set-up of meeting rooms, the look and placement of signage, and the types of materials to provide. When designing an accessible and inclusive meeting environment for people with disabilities and Deaf people, it’s important to think about their experience so they will be able to fully engage in and benefit from the meeting content. This tip sheet addresses the key considerations for a welcoming environment, such as signage, on-site registration, materials, meals and refreshments, room set-up, and meeting
agenda and activities

Vera Institute of Justice
The ADA@25: Impact and Implications for People with Disabilities Involved in the Justice System

In conjuncture with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the American’s with Disabilities Act, the Center on Victimization released this factsheet that reflects on the impact this legislation had …
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The ADA@25: Impact and Implications for People with Disabilities Involved in the Justice System

In conjuncture with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the American’s with Disabilities Act, the Center on Victimization released this factsheet that reflects on the impact this legislation had on justice involved people with disabilities and Deaf people.

Vera Institute of Justice
Cultivating Evaluation Capacity Guide

To ensure that they deliver what they promise—and do so cost-effectively—social service providers that serve victims of sexual and domestic violence are beginning to recognize the benefits of evaluating their …
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Cultivating Evaluation Capacity Guide

To ensure that they deliver what they promise—and do so cost-effectively—social service providers that serve victims of sexual and domestic violence are beginning to recognize the benefits of evaluating their programs. Many service providers, however, embark on self-evaluations without the underlying infrastructure necessary to support evaluation. Cultivating Evaluation Capacity: A Guide for Programs Addressing Sexual and Domestic Violence helps these service providers assess their evaluation capacity and identify areas of strength, as well as areas for improvement.

In addition to the publication, there is a corresponding Cultivating Evaluation Capacity webinar series to provide domestic and sexual violence service providers with access to five webinars that explore a number of topics addressed in the guide and provide an inside look at how organizations have applied these lessons in the field.

Vera Institute of Justice
Culture, Language, and Access: Serving Deaf Survivors

Recent research suggests that Deaf women experience higher rates of sexual and domestic violence than their hearing counterparts, but are often shut off from victim services and supports that are …
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Culture, Language, and Access: Serving Deaf Survivors

Recent research suggests that Deaf women experience higher rates of sexual and domestic violence than their hearing counterparts, but are often shut off from victim services and supports that are ill-equipped to respond to their unique needs. As a result, they are denied access to services that could help them safely flee from abuse, heal from trauma, and seek justice after they have been harmed. The Culture, Language, and Access: Key Considerations for Serving Deaf Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence policy brief offers practical suggestions for expanding and enhancing Deaf survivors’ access to victim services and other supports.

Vera Institute of Justice
Accessible Registration Tip Sheet

Registration is a critical part of any successful event. It provides an opportunity for you to collect information and payment, if appropriate, from individuals who will be attending your event, …
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Accessible Registration Tip Sheet

Registration is a critical part of any successful event. It provides an opportunity for you to collect information and payment, if appropriate, from individuals who will be attending your event, allowing you to proactively design an event that best meets the number, background, and needs of your attendees.

Vera Institute of Justice
Budgeting for Access Tip Sheet

When planning events—meetings, conferences, roundtables, seminars, etc.—there are accommodations necessary to ensure that attendees with disabilities and Deaf attendees have complete access to the venue and the event’s presentations and …
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Budgeting for Access Tip Sheet

When planning events—meetings, conferences, roundtables, seminars, etc.—there are accommodations necessary to ensure that attendees with disabilities and Deaf attendees have complete access to the venue and the event’s presentations and materials. Although many
modifications and accommodations have little-to-no cost, some accommodations do. This tip sheet is designed to provide you with information and cost estimates so you can incorporate those considerations into funding proposals and budgets for your event. Including accurate
estimates for common meeting expenses and specific disability accommodation line items in your budget is essential to meeting your obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and creating a welcoming environment for attendees with disabilities and Deaf attendees.

Vera Institute of Justice
Selecting an Accessible Venue Tip Sheet

One of the first decisions in event planning is location. Selecting both a city and a venue requires a number of considerations. If the location of the event is inaccessible, …
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Selecting an Accessible Venue Tip Sheet

One of the first decisions in event planning is location. Selecting both a city and a venue requires a number of considerations. If the location of the event is inaccessible, then the event
itself cannot be made accessible. This tip sheet outlines a process for finding and selecting an accessible venue and hosting an accessible meeting.

Vera Institute of Justice
Interpreting Effectively and Safely for Deaf Survivors Training

This two-day training was designed to prepare American Sign Language Interpreters and Certified/Deaf Interpreters to interpret in contexts involving sexual and/or domestic violence. Agenda topics included: violence in the lives …
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Interpreting Effectively and Safely for Deaf Survivors Training

This two-day training was designed to prepare American Sign Language Interpreters and Certified/Deaf Interpreters to interpret in contexts involving sexual and/or domestic violence. Agenda topics included: violence in the lives of Deaf survivors, self-care, trauma, ethics, language, and safety training and planning. Participants had the opportunity to explore how context impacts language decisions, to define ethical decision-making in contexts involving domestic or sexual violence, and to learn tips for keeping safe in these contexts.

Vera Institute of Justice