Disability - Awareness Assessment Tool for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Victims’ Assistance Service - Providers Working with Women with Disabilities and Deaf Women Section ONE: Introduction This Assessment Tool is intended to increase awareness about abuse of women with disabilities, and Deaf women, for providers working in domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and victims’ assistance programs1. Raising awareness of disability-related violence, while working to improve the overall access of our programs, will ensure we are providing culturally appropriate safety options for women with disabilities and Deaf women. This Assessment Tool is organized into 3 Sections: #1 Introduction #2 Disability Awareness Assessment Questions #3 Strategic Planning Guide In section #2, the questions are organized to address specific elements that most domestic violence, sexual assault and/or stalking programs have as part of their overall program, including: 1) Intake and Referral 2) Emergency Shelter 3) Case Advocacy – Case Management /Planning 4) Medication Management 5) Communication Needs 6) Children’s Program 7) Staff and Volunteer Training 8) Transitional Housing 9) Cross-Agency Collaboration 10) Transportation 11) Building Accessibility The overall goals of this Assessment Tool are to assist volunteers and advocates in looking at their practice and agency protocols for ways they already support women with disabilities, and Deaf women, who are survivors of violence, and to take a deeper look at their programs to assess how accessibility can be improved. This Tool might also help identify specific action steps you and your program could adopt that would increase awareness, collaboration and outreach efforts with other community based agencies in your local area and across your state. Types of violence experienced by women with disabilities and Deaf women are similar to the types of violence experienced by women without disabilities, such as physical violence, sexual assault, emotional / psychological abuse, financial exploitation, stalking and identity theft. However, there are additional disability-related forms of violence targeted specifically towards women with disabilities or Deaf women, including destroying adaptive and/or communication equipment; abuse by personal assistants; refusing or neglecting to attend to an important personal need such as using the bathroom, eating or drinking; intentional medication mismanagement; or threatening any of these above behaviors. These behaviors are violent and abusive. Violence affects women and men with disabilities All women are at risk of experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. However, women with disabilities are at increased risk for abuse, may experience this abuse over a longer period of time, and may have multiple types of perpetrators, including personal attendants who may be spouses, family members and/or professional paid assistants. We do not yet know a lot about the abuse experiences of men with disabilities because this area has not received much attention. However, there is reason to believe that abuse and violence is a real concern for men with disabilities. Men may not talk about the violence they are experiencing because they do not want to be seen as vulnerable, they fear not being believed if they do tell someone, and may believe that nothing can be done to stop the violence. Please keep men with disabilities in mind as you consider how you respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and criminal victimization. Mandatory reporting requirements In best practice, it is important to explain to survivors if you are a mandatory reporter. Making sure they understand your role as a mandatory reporter, as well as your advocacy role, will increase their trust. We encourage you to ALWAYS tell survivors if you are a mandatory reporter, and work WITH them to report violence / abuse. Be aware of your state's statutes and laws related to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, financial exploitation and hate crimes against people with disabilities. If you suspect abuse, a mandated report may need to be filed with Adult Protective Services, and may also need to be reported to law enforcement. It is important to know who to call and how Protective Service and law enforcement agencies work together in your area to handle mandatory abuse reports involving people with disabilities. Self-care As a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault or Stalking Advocate, think about ways to take care of yourself as you discuss with other staff members issues related to domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking against the people you serve. Working on issues of violence, creating safety-plans, and listening to others share their experience of surviving mistreatment can be difficult, intimidating and re-traumatizing. These conversations can be even more troubling if you are a survivor. It is important to take care of yourself and create personal boundaries within advocacy work; create a support system for yourself. Some ways to build-in self-care activities might include talking with your colleagues about how you are feeling, attending support groups, continue attending conferences and trainings to enhance your advocacy skills and knowledge, and identifying and trying to heal from abuse that you may have experienced. Section TWO: Disability-Awareness Assessment Tool Section TWO looks at the ways you currently provide services to women with disabilities and Deaf women. You may also learn additional ways to enhance your program’s accessibility are responsiveness that can ultimately support all survivors. Questions within each section ask the level to which disability awareness is incorporated into specific programmatic elements. 1. Intake and Referral Do you keep statistics on the number of women with disabilities and Deaf women who have used your victims’-based services? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure In your phone screen, do you ask if the caller has additional needs / or would like specific accommodations? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If your organization is unable to meet the needs of a survivor with a disability for any reason, are referrals made to other shelters or service providers? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If so, which agencies to you refer to? ________________________________________________ Is your organization networking and communicating on a regular basis with agencies who can support women with disabilities and Deaf women? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, which agencies?______________________________________ In the past 12 months, has your program provided services to women: who use wheelchairs? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure with developmental disabilities? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure with psychiatric disabilities / mental illness? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure who are blind or are low-vision? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure with mobility disabilities? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure using augmentative / alternative communication devices? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure who are hard of hearing or who are Deaf? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure women who are in recovery from substance use/abuse? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure who have on-going health-related concerns, such as diabetes? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure In the past 12 months, has your program been unable to provide service to survivor with disabilities? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, please describe other ways you did, or could have, advocated for this person: ________________________________________________ Is there a written policy for referring survivors with disabilities or Deaf survivors to other agencies? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, what is the policy?:__________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 2. Emergency Shelter Program Do you have printed material targeted specifically to women with disabilities and/or Deaf women? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, how is it accessible and applicable to their needs? _________________________________________ ________________________________________________ What other aspects of the Emergency Shelter Program could be enhanced to increase its accessibility to Deaf survivors and survivors with disabilities? ________________________________________________ 3. Case Advocacy / Management / Planning Is there an "accessibility/accommodation needs" line item in your budget? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Do you have a policy for the types of personal support shelter staff and volunteers can reasonably provide (e.g. feeding, dressing, toileting, etc.)? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, what is the policy:__________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Do staff and volunteers know how and when to contact personal assistant / nursing care agencies? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, please describe the procedures:______________________________________ Does your program have a list of resources related to abuse and victimization against survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Are these resource materials available by phone? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Are these resource materials available in-person to survivors? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Are these resource materials available via electronically off the internet? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Does your program allow personal assistance providers to accompany survivors to shelter? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Do you have a program staff member who is specifically assigned to provide services to women with disabilities or Deaf women? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, who: ______________________________________________ And what is that person's primary field of training? (check all that apply) _____ rehabilitation counseling _____ peer counseling (1:1 peer relationship with another woman who experiences a disability or who is Deaf) _____ psychology _____ public health _____ nursing _____ social work _____ community volunteer _____ other…. (please specify)________________________________________ Does the shelter program allow service and/or companion animals? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure In safety-planning with women, do you have additional strategies that women with disabilities can do to increase safety and prevent violence? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, what are the unique disability-related safety planning strategies you encourage? ( know how and were to arrange for emergency back-up care givers / support people ( have proper medications available / accessible ( know accessible transportation options / routes ( have mobility / communication / adaptive equipment available ( know how to protect themselves from financial abuse if they have a guardian or representative payee Does your program offer any of the following? (check all that apply) ( Disability / Deaf awareness training for your program staff and volunteers ( Education of criminal justice personnel regarding disability / Deaf and abuse/violence ? Training / technical assistance to other DV / SA / Stalking programs about disability / Deaf issues ( Training / technical assistance to disability agencies / programs about abuse/violence ( Others? ________________________________________________ 4. Medication Management Do survivors have access to their medications at all times? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Please describe your medication policy:___________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Can survivors monitor their medications themselves? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Can you provide personal lockers or lock boxes for medications for survivors with disabilities and Deaf women? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, are these available? ______________________ ________________________________________________ Is there someone on-site or on-call to help manage complex medication needs for survivors with disabilities, who have chronic illness, or who are Deaf? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If so, who?___________________________________________ Does your program have a policy / plan to work with survivors who are prescribed medications by their provider but choose not to take their meds? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, please describe this policy:___________________________________________ 5. Communication Does your program have a list of on-call sign language interpreters and other types of language interpreters? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, what are their names / contact info:____________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Do you have funding set aside to pay for interpreters? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Do staff and volunteers know how to accept relay calls from survivors who are Deaf or hard of hearing? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Does your agency have TTY? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, is it ready-to-use. ________________________________________________ Is staff trained and comfortable using the TTY? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Do the phones have amplification capability? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If you have a TTY number, is this listed on your agency brochure? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Are all agency informational materials, such as security pads, emergency numbers, handouts, maps of the building with fire escape routes, etc., informational sheets, available in alternative format? (e.g. Large print, audio tape, computer disc, Braille) ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, please describe: ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ If important safety information is not taped or reproduced in Braille, do you have funds and contacts for brailing such information? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, who could do this work?_______________ Do you have a staff member or volunteer who could record important information on audio-tape? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, who: _____________________________________________________________ Does your alarm system (i.e. smoke alarm, fire alarms, etc.) have visual as well as auditory alarms in each room? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Do staff receive training in communication skills for communicating with persons who use augmentative / alternate communication devices? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure 6. Children's Program Can the program accommodate children with disabilities and Deaf children? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, how?: ________________________________________________ Are there physically accessible play areas for both the children and survivors to use? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure 7. Attitudinal Accessibility – Staff/Volunteer Training Does your organization have a philosophy statement regarding best practice procedures for working with survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, please describe: ________________________________________________ Does your organization have any staff members, board members, or volunteers who self-identify as experiencing a disability or who are Deaf? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Does your agency provide specific in-service disability / Deafness awareness training for (check all that apply): ( Staff ( Volunteers ( Board member ( Administrative personnel ( Others_________________ If yes, how much training time is devoted to disability/Deaf issues? ( less than one hour ( one to two hours ( more than two hours If disability/Deafness awareness training is provided to staff and volunteers, what awareness was raised? ( principles of self-determination ( awareness of harmful disability/Deaf stereotypes ( independent living philosophy ( Americans with Disabilities Act compliance laws ( cross-disability and disability sensitivity ( strategies for increasing accessibility ( mandatory reporting laws in your state ( other accessible community resources for co- advocacy How often is staff provided disability-related training? ( never ( less than once a year ( once a year ( more than once a year How often are volunteers offered disability-related training? ( never ( less than once a year ( once a year ( more than once a year If mandatory staff / volunteer disability training includes disability / Deaf awareness, who provides the training? (check all that apply) ( internal agency staff ( disability service provider ( disability self-advocate ( other (please name) 8. Transitional Housing Are the transitional housing sites accessible for survivors and children with disabilities and Deaf survivors and children? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure ( Not applicable (we don’t provide transitional housing for any clients). If yes, please describe: _____________________________________ How would you accommodate safe transitional housing for a survivor with a disability, or who is Deaf, who needs to leave their home or leave the shelter? (Check all that apply). ( Temporarily offer her to put her up in an accessible safe hotel room while arranging more permanent accessible housing. ( Contact law enforcement to remove the perpetrator from her home. ( Suggest that she stay with a friend or relative. ( Other? Please specify. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Cross-agency collaboration How connected are you with organization working on disability rights and disability/Deaf-related advocacy issues? Check the option(s) that best match how you have worked with each of the following community organizations, or how you may intend to work with these agencies in the future. Agency name Have not yet had contact with this agency Assist survivors to get in touch with, or made a referral call to the agency Gave out info about the services / supports provided by this agency Have a contact who we work with at this agency Develop protocol for working together with this agency Attend a workshop they hosted Someone from this agency did an in-service at our agency Provide training to this agency List other ways we work with this agency Protection & Advoca-\cy Legal Councils Agency name Have not yet had contact with this agency Assist survivors to get in touch with, or made a referral call to the agency Gave out info about the services / supports provided by this agency Have a contact who we work with at this agency Develop protocol for working together with this agency Attend a work-shop they hosted Someone from this agency did an in-service at our agency Provide training to this agency List other ways we work with this agency Crime Victims’ advocate Center for Inde-pendent Living (CIL’s) Arc agency Agency name Have not yet had contact with this agency Assist survivors to get in touch with, or made a referral call to the agency Gave out info about the services / supports provided by this agency Have a contact who we work with at this agency Develop protocol for working together with this agency Attend a work-shop they hosted Someone from this agency did an in-service at our agency Provide training to this agency List other ways we work with this agency United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Other Disability Advocate Groups Adult Protective Service Agency (APS) Agency name Have not yet had contact with this agency Assist survivors to get in touch with, or made a referral call to the agency Gave out info about the services / supports provided by this agency Have a contact who we work with at this agency Develop protocol for working together with this agency Attend a work-shop they hosted Someone from this agency did an in-service at our agency Provide training to this agency List other ways we work with this agency Mental Health Drop-In Centers Develop-mental Disability Centers Voc. Rehab. Home Health- Care Agency name Have not yet had contact with this agency Assist survivors to get in touch with, or made a referral call to the agency Gave out info about the services / supports provided by this agency Have a contact who we work with at this agency Develop protocol for working together with this agency Attend a work-shop they hosted Someone from this agency did an in-service at our agency Provide training to this agency List other ways we work with this agency Assoc. for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Para- transit Blind Comm-ission Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Agency name Have not yet had contact with this agency Assist survivors to get in touch with, or made a referral call to the agency Gave out info about the services / supports provided by this agency Have a contact who we work with at this agency Develop protocol for working together with this agency Attend a work-shop they hosted Someone from this agency did an in-service at our agency Provide training to this agency List other ways we work with this agency Salvation Army Easter Seals State Develop-mental Disability Councils American Sign Lang. Interpret. Agency name Have not yet had contact with this agency Assist survivors to get in touch with, or made a referral call to the agency Gave out info about the services / supports provided by this agency Have a contact who we work with at this agency Develop protocol for working together with this agency Attend a work-shop they hosted Someone from this agency did an in-service at our agency Provide training to this agency List other ways we work with this agency Self-help Hard of Hearing Others? 10. Transportation Needs Does your organization have accessible parking designated? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, please describe: ______________________________________________________________ Is your organization located near an accessible bus line? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, please describe: ___________________________ ___________________________________________________ Does your organization have an accessible van or a way to arrange for accessible transportation accommodations, such as Access - a – Ride, for survivors who need accessible transportation options? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, please describe: ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ 11. Building Accessibility Does your building have a flat or gentle-inclined ramped entrance with a 32-inch wide doorway? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Is this the confidential entrance? (Not sure what this means) ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Is access needed to upper or lower floors? (i.e. access is needed if common rooms, counseling rooms, kitchen, playrooms, etc. are located in upper or lower floors). ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If access to upper / lower floors is necessary, do you have a dependable elevator or lift? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Do you have at least one accessible restroom as follows: o 32-inch wide doorways to restroom, stall and shower? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Do you have handrails or grab bars near the restroom toilet and in the shower? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Is there a flat (roll-in) entrance to the shower area? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure At least one accessible bedroom with a 32-inch wide door? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Are doorways to all rooms, such as offices, common meeting rooms, counseling rooms, playrooms, kitchen and living rooms 32 inches wide? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Are washing machines front-loading so a woman in a wheelchair can use them? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Are the dials on the washing machine on the front on the machine so a woman in a wheelchair can reach them? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Are kitchen counters and sinks low enough for a woman in a wheelchair to use them comfortably? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Are the dials for the oven / stove on the front of the oven so a woman in a wheelchair can reach them? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Are phones lower enough for a woman in a wheelchair to use them comfortably? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Section THREE: Strategic Planning Guide In your work as a domestic violence, sexual assault and/or stalking advocate, you already provide a great deal of support, prevention and intervention. However, there may be additional information that would be helpful for you in serving Deaf women and survivors with disabilities. Disability-related prevention / intervention activities include educating and empowering survivors, advocating for improved access of community supports, attention towards programmatic policies to ensure inclusion of cultural awareness related to issues experienced by survivors with disabilities and Deaf women, and working to establish accessible shelters or safe houses and support group locations. Section THREE of this Assessment Tool gives some additional ideas of what advocates could do, and may highlight what you are already doing, to address the problem of abuse and domestic violence against Deaf women and women with disabilities. General support for a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or stalking who experiences a disability. * listen without judging their situation * do not immediately step in to "help" if they have not specifically asked * assure survivors that the violence they are experiencing is NOT their fault * offer concrete support and follow-through when they ask for help * provide resource numbers and be with them during the phone call if they want your support * incorporate safety-planning activities during your working relationship Leaving an abusive relationship: Ways to support survivors with disabilities. * work with the survivor to create an individualized safety-plan * discuss what would go into a safety-plan / safety-kit (e.g. additional medications, phone numbers of support people and personal assistants, money, financial account information, clothes, assistive equipment items, etc.) * help strategize about who is a trusted friend / family member / relative / personal assistant * help arrange for back-up personal assistance if needed * help arrange other details (accessible transportation, housing, shelter stay, healthcare, service animal shelter / care etc.) Training opportunities for increasing awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking against women with disabilities. * locate or purchase violence prevention resources that specifically address violence against women with disabilities * talk to your colleagues and co-workers about what they know and how they advocate for women with disabilities who are experiencing, or have experienced, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking * attend a violence-awareness training workshop hosted by your own agency or your local domestic violence / rape crisis / sexual assault prevention program – include awareness of issues related to women with disabilities in the workshop training agenda * ask survivors with disabilities about ways they would feel most comfortable talking about abuse / violence * work with your agency to incorporate violence awareness / prevention strategies specifically addressing the needs of women with disabilities Ways to serve survivors with disabilities who may need emergency equipment. (Keep in mind that perpetrators often damage medical or communication devices/equipment in order to increase isolation and dependence.) * connect them with the local Durable Medical Equipment provider * temporarily loan them equipment * draw on emergency funds designated for this use * help pay for repairs of assistive equipment * set aside funds to provide for emergency and back-up medications Ways to serve survivors with disabilities who may need emergency back-up personal assistance. * actively assist survivors with disabilities in locating alternative / emergency personal assistant services * refer to an established personal assistant registry * find out from other survivors with disabilities how they located emergency back-up personal assistants * work with the survivor to make an emergency contact sheet to include family, friends and personal assistants who can be a natural support network - support people should be told they are part of a emergency back-up support network and are included in the survivor's safety plan * contact a Certified Nursing Association or the Visiting Nurses Association to see if they provide emergency back-up personal assistant services Disability, Oppression, Gender and Abuse Oppression is the "systematic mistreatment of one group of people by another group of people, in which there is an imbalance of institutionalized power." Systematic mistreatment refers to the methodical and widespread way in which psychological, physical and verbal forms of violence and abuse are directed at the group targeted for oppression. It may seem like this is happening to one person alone but it is actually occurring on the societal and institutionalized level to all people that belong to that targeted group (Adapted from: Issues Of Culture And Oppression In Organizations by Sharon Kaiser May, 1990 San Francisco, California) What does this have to do with women with disabilities and Deaf women? Women with disabilities and Deaf women run into the same problems that other women do, but it does not stop there, they are struck with a double whammy of discrimination because she is a woman and also because she is a person with a disability or is Deaf. If the woman is also a member of a racial or cultural minority, is elderly, living in poverty or is a lesbian, the oppression she experiences intensifies. Some people think that the oppression of women is natural since women are believed to be biologically inferior to men; this belief causes women to face exploitation, discrimination and violence daily. Women with disabilities and Deaf women are often perceived to be powerless in our society. Their oppression goes beyond that of other women because the female roles that are valued in other women (i.e. wife, mother, career woman, lover and nurturer, etc.) may not attributed to women with disabilities, thus leaving them with little else that defines her, even as a human being. Our society depicts women with disabilities as asexual, old, frightening, etc. and added to this is her possible increased vulnerability due to a type of disability that limits her mobility, her capacity to call out for help or fully understand what is going on. These and other issues related to disability and Deafness makes abuse and violence against women with disabilities easy to inflict. The goal of violence against women with disabilities is not just the preservation of male supremacy but also the preservation of non-disabled superiority. It is the social implications of the disability and Deafness, and not the actual disability, that increases a person’s vulnerability to violence. The language we use to talk about women with disabilities and Deaf women(i.e. retard, crazy, cripple, etc.) is no different from the oppressive language surrounding race and culture. The institutionalization of people with disabilities is no different then racial segregation or the annihilation of people based on religious beliefs. Ask yourself some of these questions: * Have you ever become angry because the only parking spaces left were those designated for people with disabilities? * Have ever thought that “so and so” has it easy, she can sit home all day watching TV and gets a government check to do it? * Have you thought that the money and benefits that people with disabilities receive is taking money out of your pocket? * Have you ever thought that accommodations that you have to make for a small handful of people are unfair? If you have you are not alone as these are the attitudes that many people have when it comes to people with disabilities and Deaf women. These thoughts help fuel the hatred of women with disabilities and Deaf women. In your anti-oppression, anti-violence work it is crucial that you understand how the myths and stereotypes surrounding Deaf women and women with disabilities promotes violence, oppression, segregation, devaluation and hatred. Some of these common myths include: * Women with disabilities are asexual * Women with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities are promiscuous * Women with disabilities should be grateful for any sexual advance that is made on them * Women with disabilities are just like children * Women with disabilities do not need to be taken seriously * Sterilizing women with disabilities will protect them from rape * Women with disabilities who do speak out or complain are seen as troublemakers or crazy * Women with disabilities should not be allowed to have children because they are unfit * Women with disabilities who have been sexually abused do not suffer the same trauma as women without disabilities The following are some of the negative outcomes of these myths: * Women with disabilities being taught to be passive, which is reinforced in institutional and residential settings * Women with disabilities are excluded from learning about sex education and without sex education they may be unable to tell when the actions by others is sexually abusive and exploitive * Women with disabilities may not report abuse by a caregiver because of the degree of physical dependence and the fragility of her support network * Many women with disabilities have lived in institutional or residential settings, away from any public scrutiny and with little access to the police, support services, lawyers and advocates. More abuse happens behind closed doors * When women with disabilities do reach out for help or justice, the programs are often inaccessible * When a woman with a disability is in a service setting, she is exposed to a large number of personal assistants and support workers * Offenders may choose the victim that is least likely to resist, motivated by power and control, and women with disabilities often seem to be the perfect target Women with disabilities are at a greater risk of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and are also subjected to institutional violence, chemical restraint, drug use, unwanted sterilization, medical exploration, humiliation and harassment. Any type of anti-violence work needs to address these issues and the oppression that is at the root of these acts. People First Language Disability as a group is our nation’s largest minority and is the most inclusive and diverse group; it is the only group that any person can become a member of at any time. As a group, disabilities include members from both genders, member of any age, religion, and socioeconomic status, people from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds and any sexual orientation. People in the disability group, are all different from each other but share in their experience of societal misunderstanding, prejudice, and discrimination. In our culture we often identify ourselves by what we do for a living, i.e. “I am an engineer”, by our pastimes, i.e. “I am a golfer” and by our roles, i.e. “I am a mother”. Our self-image is often tied up with these descriptors, so when we call someone “disabled” or “handicapped”, these too color our self-image. Using people first language is not about being politically correct it is about respect and moving away from the way of thinking that has kept people with disabilities oppressed and discriminated against. The following are some examples of people first language. People First Language Negative Language Positive (People First) Language The handicapped or disabled. People with disabilities. He’s mentally retarded. He has a cognitive disability (diagnosis). She’s autistic. She has autism (or an autism diagnosis). He’s Down’s. He has a diagnosis of Down syndrome. She’s learning disabled. She has a learning disability (diagnosis). He’s a quadriplegic/crippled He has a physical disability (diagnosis). She’s a dwarf/midget. She’s of short stature/she’s a little person. He’s emotionally disturbed/mentally ill. He has a mental health diagnosis. She’s confined/wheelchair bound. She uses a wheelchair/mobility chair. He’s in special ed. He receives special ed services. She’s developmentally delayed. She has a developmental delay. Normal or healthy kids. Kids without disabilities. Is non-verbal. Communicates with her eyes/device/etc. Client, consumer, recipient, etc. Customer Birth defect Congenital disability Brain damaged Brain injury Handicapped parking, hotel room, etc. Accessible parking, hotel room, etc. She has problems/special needs. She needs . . . or she uses . . Words have power. When we are doing anti-violence work we must consider whether the words we are using are empowering or disempowering, and if necessary change the way we think and talk in order to create an atmosphere of respect. Adapted from Snow, K (2001) To ensure Inclusion, Freedom, and Respect for all, we must use People First Language. Downloaded March 22, 2005 from Disability is Natural website http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/peoplefirstlanguage.htm 10 Things Advocates & Agencies Can Do to Ensure Inclusive Services 1. Organizational Commitment: As an organization, develop a written statement that demonstrates your commitment to serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking who have disabilities. Include this statement on outreach materials and ensure all staff and volunteers are aware of the commitment. Share your commitment with local agencies who also serve people with disabilities to ensure they know you are a resource for referrals and trainings. Commit to hiring staff, recruiting volunteers, and seeking out board members who have disabilities for their expertise. 2. Attitudes: Be aware of stereotypes both positive and negative (“People with developmental disabilities are like children” or “People with developmental disabilities are all sweet and gentle.”) that impact your behaviors and assumptions when working with survivors with disabilities. Interrupt jokes and language that reinforce negative stereotypes of people with disabilities. Address your own fears of discomforts, and seek out additional training and information if you feel you’d be uncomfortable working with a survivor with a disability. 3. Support Groups: Do what you can to ensure your support groups are open to anyone who needs support and information. Access goes beyond physical access to include things such as materials being modified based on an individual’s need. 4. Internal Training: Commit to ongoing internal training such as including working with survivors with disabilities in your volunteer training and for staff/volunteer in-service trainings. Trainings may include basic training of working with survivors with disabilities (cross-disability), to more specific trainings such as working with survivors with psychiatric disabilities, survivors who are Deaf, blind, and so forth. 5. Community Partnerships: Partner with local agencies that serve people with disabilities such as local Centers for Independent Living; Area Agencies on Aging; schools, clubs or churches for people who are Deaf; and so forth. Hold open houses and invite community partners to learn about the services you offer. Seek cross-training opportunities. Get to know the names and faces of people at other agencies who can assist with resources, problem-solving, technical assistance on access issues, and so forth. 6. Phone Access: Often agencies have a TTY and yet no one is quite sure how to use it properly. Get appropriate training, and know how to use phone relay services. Have a policy and resource list for interpreters who can respond in emergency situations. 7. Language: Avoid words such as “retarded.” (Instead, “person with a developmental disability.”) Only refer to a disability if it is relevant to the conversation. 8. Interpersonal Respect: Speak to the client and maintain eye contact with her or him even if the person has a personal assistant or friend with them. If you don’t understand someone’s speech ask them to repeat themselves. Don’t pretend to understand if you don’t. Let them know what they are saying is important and demonstrate that you’re willing to be patient. 9. Outreach: Develop outreach materials that include photos of people with disabilities. Disseminate outreach materials in places where people with disabilities may go for services such as Centers for Independent Living or Durable Medical Equipment suppliers. Offer outreach materials in alternative formats such as audio-tapes, large print, and Braille. Invite people to call you about accommodations they may need to access services. Include statistics that are inclusive of abuse against women with disabilities. Post flyers or posters that demonstrate you are aware of—and trained to—work with survivors of violence who have disabilities. 10. Community Advocacy: Ensure that courtrooms, exam rooms where forensic exams are conducted, restraining order rooms, and so forth are accessible. Work with women who will be in court to ensure reasonable accommodations will be met per ADA standards. 11 This project supported by Grant No. 2002-FW-BX-0007 – Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. Project title: “The Oregon Violence Against Women with Disabilities Technical Assistance Center” at The Regional Research Institute, Portland State University, P.O Box 751, Portland, Oregon 97207. For more information, please contact Mary Oschwald, at 503.725.9602; oschwald@pdx.edu. Thank you for your attention to violence against women with disabilities and Deaf women, for your commitment to ending abuse against all people, and for holding perpetrators accountable. ?? ?? ?? ?? Disability-Awareness Assessment Tool 1