Measuring Success: Using the 
Indicators for Disability Grant 
Program Grantees 

March 7, 2019 

Sandra Harrell, Associate Director 
Center on Victimization and Safety 
Vera Institute of Justice 



Overview of the Performance 
Indicators 



What are Indicators? 

• They allow users to evaluate performance and to 
develop strategic plans. 
• Indicators are easily measured details that are used 
to represent hard-to-measure, abstract concepts 
• They must be concrete (focused on one specific 
detail) and measureable (able to be observed, 
recorded, and scored). 
• Indicators must be collected over time. 
• Repeated collection over time allows for the users 
to track progress, regress, or lack of change. 

Indicator Fundamentals 

• No single indicator is good enough 
• Most access and safety issues are multi-faceted 
and require multiple measures 
• Groups of 4-6 complimentary indicators are 
used to measure one broad concept 
• No single data source is perfect 
• Data from multiple sources should be used to 
explore all aspects of the concept 
• Data sources are specified for each indicator 

History of the Indicators 

• Beginning in 2012, Vera developed a performance 
indicator management system with funding from 
OVW. 
• Released in 2015, the performance indicator 
management system measures a variety of aspects 
of different types of agencies’ ability to effectively 
serve survivors with disabilities. 
• In 2018, Vera developed a set of indicators to 
measure how well hearing agencies serve Deaf 
survivors. 

History of the Indicators (2) 

• There are 6 sets of performance indicators: Disability Service 
Organizations, Residential Domestic Violence Agencies, Non-
Residential Domestic Violence Agencies, Rape Crisis Centers, 
Dual DV/SA Agencies, Deaf Indicators 
• Currently, 49 agencies use the indicators (not including 2018 
grantees). 
TypeNumber
Disability 
Orgs 
20 


Dual 
DV/SA 
7 


Rape 
Crisis 
Centers 
7 


Residential 
DV 
5 


Non-Residential 
DV 
4 


Deaf 
Indicator 
6 


TOTAL 
49 




The System 



The System 

9

Elements of the System 

Commitment 

• Theme 1: Responsibility 
• Theme 2: Partnerships 
• Theme 3: Policies 
Capacity 

• Theme 1: Material Resources 
• Theme 2: Human Resources 
• Theme 3: Programmatic Activities 

Indicator Measures -Example 

Agency recognizes violence against people with 
disabilities and Deaf individuals as a priority by: 

disabilities in agency’s public outreach 

accessibility for people with disabilities in 

qHaving an internal committee or work 
qHaving a client non-discrimination policy 
that explicitly includes disability status. 
1. Recognizes as Priority 
qSpecifically mentioning people with 
brochure or social media accounts. 
qIncluding efforts to increase agency’s 
agency’s strategic plan. 
group focused on enhancing the 
agency’s response to domestic and 
sexual violence against people with 
disabilities. 

Data Sources 

• Agency Documents 
• Data collection method: intake forms, policies, 
procedures, training materials, resource sheets 
• Agency’s physical and material resources 
• Data collection method: Agency Observations 
• The staff of your organization 
• Data collection method: Staff Interview Questions 

Measures and Data Sources 



Scoring 

• The indicators reflect your commitment to and 
capacity for serving survivors with disabilities. 
• Scores are based off of a point scale ranging from 0 
to 100. 

Average Scores 

15

Changes in Capacity Over Time 

16

Changes in Capacity Over Time (2) 

17

Online Indicator System 

• Vera is launching its online indicator system in 2018. 
• To score your agency, you will make use of internal 
documents, observations, and staff interview 
questions. 
• The performance indicators are scored every 6 
months using this system. 

Online Indicator System (2) 

• The online system automatically generates your 
score once you have completed the indicator 
questions, and allows you to track trends over time, 
as well as compare your scores to agencies of the 
same type. 
• Upon registration, you will be able to select the name 
and location of your organization, and select your 
agency type. 
• You will also be able to add individuals to your 
organization and set their permissions. 

Getting Started 


Visit indicators.endabusepwd.org to get started. 

In the upper right hand corner of the screen you will see 
two options: log in and create an account. Click create 
an account to get started. 



Creating an Account 


Once you click “Create 
Account” a box will 
pop up. Enter your 
name, email, and a 
password to create an 
account. 


Creating an Account (2) 


Next you will fill out information about 
your organization. Here you can enter 
its name, where it is located, and its 
agency type. 



Successfully Creating an Account 


When you have successfully created an account you 
will see the following screen. Click on select to get 
started with the assessment process. 



Assessments 


Because you have not yet completed an assessment, there 
will be no data entered in the system. As such, it will show 
you a comparison of your organization and similar 
organizations. To enter data, click ”Create an Assessment.” 



Assessments (2) 


When you go to create an assessment, you will see the 
following system. This system is the online indicators. You 
will be required to check appropriate measures under each 

component to score your agency. 

Assessment (3) 


The panel on the left side of the 
screen shows you the source type 
needed to complete each section. 
As you successfully complete each 
section, a blue checkmark will 
appear next to each data source. 
You will make your way through the 
system by selecting answers to 
each indicator question under each 
data source, selecting the “Next” 
button at the bottom right hand 
corner of your screen to move 
forward through the assessment. 


Assessment (4) 


The system tracks your progress with the assessment on 
the bottom bar. When you have completed the assessment, 
you will have the option to view your results. Click the 
button at the bottom right to see them. 


Once you click that button, the above screen will appear. Click 
”No, continue editing” to review or revise your assessment. 
Click “Yes, view results” to proceed to your score. 



Results 


Completed assessments will generate an snapshots 
of your results. You can view your overall score, or 
results for the commitment and capacity components. 



Results (2) 


You will be able to 
see which 
indicators for 
each component 
you have 
satisfied, and 
which indicators 
you have not. You 
may click view 
detailed results to 
see more intricate 
information about 
your results. 



Collecting Required Information 



Data Sources Required 


On the “My Assessments” page, you will have the option to 
view the above options. You may download the list of 
documents needed, the observation guide, and interview 
questions for staff. 


31 



Data Sources (2) 


32 



Repeat Every Six Months 

• Creates a built-in opportunity for self-reflection. 
• Allows you to identify changes that may not be 
obvious. 
• The process of using the indicators is faster. 
• Enhancing capacity takes time to plan, develop, and 
execute. Scores may not increase significantly in the 
short-term. 
• Continue to share results with your staff. 
• Celebrate successes. 

Questions? 

Please reach out to 
ldworkis@vera.org with any 
comments or concerns. 



Thank you! 

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