Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Another important public health issue for women with disabilities is domestic violence and sexual assault. Women with disabilities may be at a higher risk for violence than the general public. They are 5 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than women without disabilities (NC BRFSS 2001). Nationally, about 85% of women with disabilities have experienced domestic violence (Feuerstein, 1997). At least 76% of adults with cognitive disabilities have been sexually assaulted (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 1996). In addition, services may not be accessible and inclusive for these women. The NCODH recognizes the need for women with disabilities to have the same access to domestic violence and sexual assault services as all women and is currently working to increase the capacity of programs in NC to serve women with disabilities who are survivors of violence.

Access for All: Developing Systems Change
NCODH received a two-year grant from the North Carolina Governor's Crime Commission in 2005 to develop fundamental elements of accessibility for the state’s domestic violence and sexual assault agencies regarding their hotline, shelter, counseling and advocacy services through a systems change approach. By incorporating the fundamental elements into their core services, NC domestic violence and sexual assault programs will have increased capacity to serve women with disabilities through improved accessibility of agency, materials, communication, and buildings.

NCODH Publications

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Brochures
These brochures, developed by NCODH, the NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, are designed for domestic violence and sexual assault service providers across the state to learn more about disability and violence. The brochures describe how people with disabilities are vulnerable to violence; types of abuse people with disabilities may experience with the sexual or domestic violence; and strategies for agencies to improve access to and delivery of services. To order brochures, contact the NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault at 1-888-727-2272 and/or the NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 1-888-232-9124.
Sexual Violence and People with Disabilities brochure (111KB)
Domestic Violence and People with Disabilities brochure (448KB)

Basic Disability Awareness: Providing Disability-Friendly Sexual and Domestic Violence Services
This training manual is in development for sexual assault and domestic violence service providers. Goals for training participants include gaining knowledge about how to provide accessible programs, communication, and buildings to all people and how to create a service environment where people with disabilities feel welcome and accepted.

Access for All Executive Summary (62KB)
This summary describes a 2003-2005 grant project, Access for All, funded by the NC Governor’s Crime Commission to assist domestic violence and sexual assault agencies in six NC counties to improve accessibility of their services for women with disabilities. The report describes project activities and evaluation and next steps to improving access to domestic violence and sexual assault services throughout the state.

Other Resources

Publications

Stop the Violence, Break the Silence
A training guide for domestic violence and sexual assault service providers. SafePlace, PO Box 19454, Austin, TX 78760, (512) 267-SAFE (7233) or 512-927-9616 TTY, http://www.austin-safeplace.org

Balancing the Power: Creating a Crisis Center Accessible to People with Disabilities
A guide to providing accessible services for domestic violence and sexual assault programs. SafePlace, PO Box 19454, Austin, TX 78760, (512) 267-SAFE (7233) or 512-927-9616 TTY,
http://www.austin-safeplace.org/

Program and Service Accessibility: A Guide for Serving Victims with Disabilities
A manual about providing accessible services for people with disabilities. Leslie A. Meyers, Center for Research on Women with Disabilities, Independence First, 600 W. Virginia St., Suite 301, (414) 291-7529,
http://www.independencefirst.org/

Serving Women with Disabilities: A Guide for Domestic Abuse Programs.
Guidelines for providing accessible domestic violence services. Leslie A. Myers, Center for Research on Women with Disabilities, Independence First, 600 W. Virginia St. Suite 301, (414) 291-7520,
http://www.independencefirst.org/

Untold Stories, Unmet Needs. Understanding the Needs of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Survivors with Physical and Sensory Disabilities.
A training manual about serving clients with physical, visual or hearing disabilities. Jane Doe, Inc., 14 Beacon Street, Suite 507, Boston, MA 02108, (617) 248-0922,
www.JaneDoe.org

Videos

Disability, Violence, and Survival: A Personal Story (11 minutes)
SafePlace, (512) 267-SAFE (7233), (512)927-9616 TTY, http://www.austin-safeplace.org/

Serving Women with Disabilities An Advocate’s Guide (33 minutes)
New Mexico Attorney General's Office, http://www.ago.state.nm.us

End the Silence (8 minutes)
The Institute on Disabilities at Temple University (Pennsylvania's University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities), (215) 204-1356 (voice/TTY), http://disabilities.temple.edu

Organizations

SafePlace
PO Box 19454, Austin, TX 78760, (512)-267-SAFE (7233) or (512) 927-9616 (TTY), http://www.austin-safeplace.org/

Center for Research on Women with Disabilities (CROWD) 3440 Richmond Avenue, Suite B - Houston, Texas 77046, (713) 960-0505 or (800) 44-CROWD, http://www.bcm.tmc.edu/crowd/

Current Access for All: Developing Systems Change community partnerships include:

• NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Alliance of Disability Advocates, Center for Independent Living
• NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault