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

Luana Nelson-Brown 

Executive Director, Iowa Coalition for Collective 
Change 
July 28, 2020 



Objectives for today 

• 
Review the need for accessible services at 
culturally specific programs; 
• 
Discuss benefits of increasing accessibility; 
• 
Outline strategies culturally specific 
programs can use to increase the 
accessibility of their services. 

The Need for Accessible Services for 
Culturally Specific Programs 



People with disabilities are most at 
risk for DV/SA -data 

• 
People with intellectual or developmental 
disabilities are 7x more likely to experience sexual 
assault. 
• 
49% of people with developmental disabilities are 
assaulted 10 or more times in their lifetime. 
• 
20% of Deaf adults have experienced physical abuse 
by an intimate partner. 15% have experienced 
forced sex in an intimate partner relationship. 
• 
Population is so invisible that we can’t even find 
data connecting race, disability, and victimization. 
• 
Culturally specific organizations are best positioned to 
get data. 

Factors that increase risk 

• 
Isolation 
• 
Dependence on others 
• 
Denied information about basic rights 
• 
Denied education about their body, boundaries, healthy 
relationships, sex or abuse 
• 
Learned compliance 
• 
Lack of control over life choices 
• 
Culture of institutionalization (no choice of where and 
with whom one lives) 
• 
Racism, homophobia and other marginalization but no 
outlet to process 

People with disabilities are least 
likely to receive services 

Only 13% of victims of violent crime with 
disabilities receive support from victim 
services. 
Why? Answer in the chat. 
Erika Harrell, Crime Against Persons with Disabilities, 2009–2014 -Statistical Tables (Washington, DC: U.S. Department 
of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2016). 



Culturally specific programs are best 
positioned to provide accessible services 

• 
Disability does not discriminate – every race, 
ethnicity, gender, sexuality, sexual identity, and 
socioeconomic class experiences disability 
• 
Avoiding additional trauma or marginalization 
Courtney-Long, E.A., Romano, S.D., Carroll, D.D. et al. 
Socioeconomic Factors at the Intersection of Race and 
Ethnicity Influencing Health Risks for People with 
Disabilities. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (2017) 4: 

213. DOI: 10.1007/s40615-016-0220-5external icon. 

Serving the most marginalized 

• 
Culturally specific programs understand that when 
you reach the margins, your solutions are the best 
decisions for everybody. 
• 
By reaching the most marginalized in our 
communities, people with disabilities, and meeting 
their needs, we are living our values of creating the 
best services for everybody. 
• 
Overcome the most barriers, address the most needs 
• 
More accessible services = benefits for everyone 

Benefits of Accessible Services 



What benefits are there? 

How could increasing the accessibility of services 
benefit survivors you serve? How could it benefit your 
program? 

Answer in the chat. 



Survivors benefit from more 
accessible services 

• 
Gap filled for survivors -allows survivors with 
disabilities to receive accessible, culturally 
competent services that they otherwise might be 
denied at mainstream organizations 
• 
Increased services for all survivors in your 
community 

Programs benefit, too 

• 
New perspectives on issues at the intersection of 
DV/SA, racism, and ableism 
• 
Accessible spaces, materials, and programming 
mean reaching a wider audience 
• 
Relationship building with organizations in your 
community 
• 
Save time and money – having the right 
stakeholders at the table 
• 
Funding and fundraising opportunities 
• 
New opportunities for different work 

Sharing our Journey: Des Moines, 
Iowa 



Strategies for Culturally Specific 
Programs to Increase Access 


14 



Begin with conversations 

• 
How is disability viewed in your community? 
• 
Does the community you serve think about 
disability? If so, how (negatively, positively, 
neutrally)? Would this have an impact on how 
you provide services? 
• 
How does your agency think about disability? 
•How would you serve a survivor with a disability? 
•What are the biggest barriers/challenges when 
providing advocacy and other services for 
these survivors? 
15

Address agency/program needs 

• 
Review policies, procedures, and practices – are 
they inclusive for survivors with disabilities? Are they 
unintentionally exclusionary? 
• 
Conduct an access review of your physical space 
• 
Review your budget -do you budget for 
accommodations? Could you? 

Partner with other agencies 

• 
Disability organizations in your community can be a 
great resource on how to increase access and 
reach people with disabilities 
• 
You can also be a resource for them on how to be 
culturally competent and integrate a culturally 
competent framework into their work 
• 
No wrong door for survivors 
• 
Reach out for assistance 

Final Thoughts 



Final thoughts 

Culturally specific programs are best positioned to 
meet all of the needs of people we serve when we 
ensure our programs are accessible and disability 
responsive. 

Programs can take small steps to make change – 
looking at policies, practices, materials, and physical 
materials and making connections with contractors 
and community partners. 

Ask for help – you’re not in this alone. 



Final thoughts from you 

What is one thing you learned today that you 
can apply to your work? 

Answer in the chat. 



Questions? 

Thank you! 
Luana Nelson-Brown 


Executive Director 

Iowa Coalition for Collective Change 

luananb@iowachange.org 



Please complete our brief survey 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SV58PT7 

Materials for download (PowerPoint PDF and 
Record of Attendance): 

https://vera.egnyte.com/fl/JlxP0wK10N