Working with Victims with Disabilities

Since 2002, VSDVAA has been working towards improving access to domestic and sexual violence services for people with disabilities. VSDVAA has developed two curricula – one for sexual and domestic violence victim advocates and disability services providers and one for law enforcement. The training for advocates covers domestic violence 101 and sexual violence 101 for disability services providers, and disability sensitivity 101 and access for persons with hearing losses. The law enforcement training includes information on violence against people with disabilities; basic information on disabilities, the ADA, and resources; and how law enforcement, with support from allies in the community, can effectively respond to these cases.

VSDVAA did a statewide needs assessment of women with mental health or cognitive disabilities who have experienced sexual and/or domestic violence. For a copy of the report from that study go to AWINS Disability Report (PDF Document) (The letters PDF indicate a document is in the Portable Document Format (PDF). To view file you will need the Adobe Acrobat(R) Reader which is available for free from the Adobe web site.

VSDVAA is developing domestic violence and sexual assault screening tools for community services boards (CSBs) and centers for independent living (CILs); ADA compliance biannual surveys for CSBs, CILs and sexual and domestic violence agencies; and statewide training on the ADA.

VSDVAA has a variety of resources on people with disabilities. Many of these resources are on this website. Staff are also available via email or phone to answer questions and provide technical assistance, or to provide on-site training/technical assistance.

If you are interested in working on improving access to services for people with disabilities, you can join the Disability Task Force of VSDVAA.