Webinar

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 …
Continue reading "One Year Later:...

<< Back

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
Meeting the Needs of Immigrant Survivors with Disabilities

Survivors with disabilities who have immigrated to the United States face challenges in reporting victimization and receiving services. Language barriers, a lack of a support network in the United States, …
Continue reading "Meeting the Needs...

<< Back

Meeting the Needs of Immigrant Survivors with Disabilities

Survivors with disabilities who have immigrated to the United States face challenges in reporting victimization and receiving services. Language barriers, a lack of a support network in the United States, difficulties accessing services, and lack of knowledge of the criminal justice system or services available will pose barriers for immigrant survivors. When the survivor also has a disability, they face additional challenges to services and healing. This webinar reviews some best practices for service providers working with immigrant survivors with disabilities.

Vera Institute of Justice
A Conversation on Serving Survivors with Disabilities

Research has shown that people with disabilities experience increased risk of domestic and sexual violence compared to people without disabilities. They also experience unique challenges in receiving healing and support, …
Continue reading "A Conversation on...

<< Back

A Conversation on Serving Survivors with Disabilities

Research has shown that people with disabilities experience increased risk of domestic and sexual violence compared to people without disabilities. They also experience unique challenges in receiving healing and support, everything from receiving outreach for services through participating in programming. This conversation will help you begin to understand the unique dynamics of sexual and domestic violence in the lives of people with disabilities and the barriers they face when seeking services. You will also receive practical guidance for making your services safer and more accessible for all!

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 …
Continue reading "Meeting the Needs...

<< Back

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 …
Continue reading "Understanding and Reaching...

<< Back

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 …
Continue reading "Meeting the Needs...

<< Back

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
Closing the Gap Between Values and Reality: Disability Inclusion in Culturally Specific Work

Culturally specific domestic violence and sexual assault programs have always known that when you create services by focusing on those in the margins, you end up with better services for …
Continue reading "Closing the Gap...

<< Back

Closing the Gap Between Values and Reality: Disability Inclusion in Culturally Specific Work

Culturally specific domestic violence and sexual assault programs have always known that when you create services by focusing on those in the margins, you end up with better services for everyone. When this is your core value, you also understand that to create services you focus your attention on those at the very edge of the margins. That, however, is often easier said than done. In this webinar, Luana Nelson-Brown discusses how to close the gap between knowing it’s important to reach those at the edge of the margins and actually doing it by discussing strategies to serve survivors with disabilities in marginalized communities; and why when we do so we close the gap between our stated values and our actual practices.

Vera Institute of Justice
Economic Justice for Survivors with Disabilities During COVID-19 and Beyond

Survivors with disabilities often face economic barriers to services and healing. They may live on a limited income (either due to sub-minimum wage, Social Security, or SSI) that restricts their …
Continue reading "Economic Justice for...

<< Back

Economic Justice for Survivors with Disabilities During COVID-19 and Beyond

Survivors with disabilities often face economic barriers to services and healing. They may live on a limited income (either due to sub-minimum wage, Social Security, or SSI) that restricts their ability to save money or spend on services. They may have limited housing and transportation options. This webinar will review some of the ways that survivors with disabilities are faced with economic challenges during COVID-19 and beyond, as well as provide strategies for overcoming barriers to ensure that survivors with disabilities can receive the services they need.

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 …
Continue reading "Advocacy Strategies for...

<< Back

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 …
Continue reading "Technology as a...

<< Back

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