You are here: home>community profiles>Past Communities>

Vermont (multiple loca

 

Project Name

Creating Access Team (CAT)

Partners

Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
(http://www.vtnetwork.org)

Vermont Center for Independent Living
(http://www.vcil.org)

Deaf Vermonters Advocacy Services
(http://www.dvas.org)

Green Mountain Self-Advocates
(http://www.dad.state.vt.us/DSwebsite/advocacy/self-advocacy-ds.html)

Vermont Psychiatric Survivors
(http://www.sover.net/~vpsinc)

Overview

The Vermont-based collaboration – formally named the Creating Access Team (CAT) – is comprised of the state's network of sexual and domestic violence programs, the state's center for independent living, an advocacy program for Deaf victims of all crimes, a state-wide self-advocacy network for people with developmental disabilities, and a state-wide advocacy group for people with mental health challenges. The Creating Access Team seeks to improve the policies and practices of service providers serving women with disabilities who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, and/or stalking.

Because the collaborative members all work on a state-wide level, they are well-positioned to have a broad impact in the state of Vermont. The Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence represents 16 local domestic and sexual violence programs, three of which have members serving on the CAT team. The Vermont Center for Independent Living is the only independent living center in the state. Its central office is in Montpelier, VT with three regional offices spanning the rest of the state. Deaf Vermonters Advocacy Services has provided training to programs throughout Vermont on how to serve Deaf survivors. The Green Mountain Self-Advocates is a statewide network that provides training to communities and organizations to ensure the accessibility of programs for people with developmental disabilities. And, finally, Vermont Psychiatric Survivors is an independent, survivor-run organization that provides education about mental illness, recovery, and the service system in Vermont.

In addition to the knowledge and diversity of their collaboration, the Creating Access Team also brings a history of working together under the Office of Violence Against Women’s previous Disability Grant Program. Awarded a year-long planning grant in 2005, the Creating Access Team used that year to develop their cross-discipline collaboration and ultimately developed a tool for assessing the accessibility of battered women’s shelters and rape crisis programs. The Creating Access Team will incorporate the lessons learned under the previous grant program into their current efforts.

Contact Information

Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence

Chani Waterhouse
802-223-1302 (v)
Email: chani@vtnetwork.org

• community profiles
• resources
• news & events