Victimization Awareness of People with Disabilities: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Personal Attendant Abuse Assessment Tool for Disability Organizations, Healthcare Centers, Brokerages and Mental-Health Drop-in Centers Section One: Introduction This Victimization-Awareness of People with Disabilities Tool is designed for Disability Organizations, Healthcare Centers, Brokerages, Mental-Health Drop-in Centers and Centers for Independent Living to increase awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and personal attendant abuse against people with disabilities. 1 The questions in this Victimization-Awareness Tool addresses organizational practice, policies and procedures, such as: dissemination of information about violence against people with disabilities; information and referral activities; advocacy and outreach; transition and discharge planning; peer counseling and mentoring; independent living skills training; personal attendant services; and staff and volunteer training. This Tool can assist advocates, staff and volunteers to look at ways to provide advocacy to people with who have been victimized and can help to identify specific action steps for increasing awareness, collaboration and outreach efforts with community organizations that are addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and/or personal attendant abuse. Types of violence experienced by people with disabilities include: physical violence; sexual assault; emotional/psychological abuse; financial exploitation and identity theft; destroying adaptive and/or communication equipment; forced restraint and seclusion; refusing or neglecting to attend to an important personal need such as using the bathroom, eating or drinking; refusing to give the correct amount of medication; or threatening to do any of these above behaviors. These behaviors are violent and abusive. If you are or have experienced abuse, it is not your fault. 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 also at increased risk for disability-targeted abuse, and they may experience this abuse over a longer period of time at the hands of multiple perpetrators, including paid personal attendants, partners, spouses, family members, healthcare staff and staff who work as case managers within publicly-funded services organizations. We also know that men with disabilities experience abuse, from partners, family-members and personal attendants, and though violence against men with disabilities has not received much attention, men with disabilities are speaking out and sharing their stories. However, there are many reasons 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 about the violence anyway. We encourage advocates to keep men in mind as you consider how you respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and personal attendant abuse against men with disabilities. Mandatory reporting requirements In best practice, it is important you tell individuals you are a mandatory reporter and explain what this means in your professional role. We encourage you to ALWAYS tell individuals if you are a mandatory reporter, and work WITH them to report the violence / abuse. Be aware of your state's statutes and laws related to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, personal attendant abuse, financial exploitation and hate crimes against people with disabilities. If you suspect abuse, a mandated report needs 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. Disclosure of your own personal history Peer support is a core service and the backbone of many Disability organizations. It is important to become aware that, at times, sharing information about your own victimization may or may not be helpful to those you are working with. Depending on the level of trust, or if a consumer / patient asks you about your own history, you may feel it is appropriate to share personal information. Make sure, however, that you are sharing personal information about yourself because it is helpful to those you serve rather than being exclusively helpful to you. Section Two Organizational Culture related to Victimization and Disability 1. How does your organization communicate awareness about domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, personal attendant abuse and disability? Do you have: * Posters on the wall indicating abuse of people with disabilities is wrong? ( Yes ( No * Brochures or other information displayed about safety awareness? ( Yes ( No * Abuse screening or risk assessment tools people could use to ask themselves about abuse in their lives? ( Yes ( No * Wallet-sized resource cards listing help-line numbers and victims’ service programs? ( Yes ( No * Information posted about the local help lines / crisis lines? ( Yes ( No Information and Referral (I & R) 2. Are victims’ service programs (domestic violence & sexual assault) and crimes victims’ advocates included in your I & R listings? ( Yes ( No 3. During I & R in-take activities, do you do routinely discuss or screen for abuse or violence? ( Yes ( No 4. During I & R activities, do you routinely encourage individuals to assess for abuse that may be happening in their lives? ( Yes ( No 5. How connected are you with victims’ service provider programs – domestic and sexual violence, crime victims’ advocates, restraining order personnel. Check the option(s) that best match how you have worked with each of the following community organizations. Agency name This agency exists but don't know much about them Helped someone get in touch with the agency or made referral phone calls Gave out info about services/ supports provided by this agency Have a contact person who we work with at this agency Developed a protocol for working together with this agency Attended a workshop they hosted Someone from this agency did an in-service at our agency We provide training to this agency Other ways we collaborated with this agency Local DV shelter safe houses Crisis Line Agency name This agency exists but don't know much about them Helped someone get in touch with the agency or made referral phone calls Gave out info about services/ supports provided by this agency Have a contact person who we work with at this agency Developed a protocol for working together with this agency Attended a workshop they hosted Someone from this agency did an in-service at our agency We provide training to this agency Other ways we collaborated with this agency Men's re-source center Rape Crisis / SA prog. DV survivor group Agency name This agency exists but don't know much about them Helped some-one get in touch with the agency or made referral phone calls Gave out info about services/ supports provided by this agency Have a contact person who we work with at this agency Developed a protocol for working together with this agency Attended a work-shop they hosted Someone from this agency did an in-service at our agency We provide training to this agency Other ways we collaborated with this agency Adult protective services Agency name This agency exists but don't know much about them Have assisted a consumer to get in touch with the agency or made referral phone calls Gave out information to a consumer about the services / supports provided by this agency We have a contact person identified who we work with at this agency We developed a protocol for working together with this agency Attended a workshop they hosted Someone from this agency did an in-service at our agency We provided training to this agency Other ways we collaborated with this agency Crime Victims Assist-ance Office Legal Aid Domestic Violence legal counsel Other agencies working with domestic violence issues? Advocacy and Outreach 6. Does your organization have advocacy priorities related to abuse and violence (for example: outreach to domestic violence and sexual assault programs, crime victims’ advocates; abuse-awareness materials available; in-service training related to victimization issues)? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, please describe: _____________________________________ 7. Does anyone at your organization participate on committees, task forces, coordinated communities or oversight groups that are working on abuse and violence issues? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, please describe: _____________________________________ 8. Does anyone at your organization volunteer or work at organizations focusing on abuse and violence (for example, at a domestic violence shelter or crisis line)? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, please describe: _____________________________________ 9. Have staff or volunteers participated in any advocacy activities related to increasing abuse awareness (marched against violence, visited to legislators, written a newsletter article about violence, trained other organizations about disability and abuse)? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, please describe: _____________________________________ Peer Counseling / Mentoring 10. Do peer mentors, counselors, staff and volunteers address victimization Is supporting consumers with abuse / violence issues formally addressed in your peer counseling / mentoring program (for example, a part of the training, discussed in written materials)? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, in what ways?: _____________________________________ 11. Do peer counselors and/or mentors have a protocol for supporting consumers who have abuse or violence issues? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, how?: _____________________________________ 12. Do peer mentors discuss with consumers issues related to violence? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure 13. What types of support groups, trainings, classes, etc. related to abuse awareness / violence prevention do you provide? * Recognizing abuse / violence ( Yes ( No ( Not sure * Safety-planning and other strategies to deal with abuse / violence ( Yes ( No ( Not sure * Reclaiming one's life after an abusive relationship ( Yes ( No ( Not sure * Other support groups ( Yes ( No If yes, what is the focus? _______________________________ * ( Don't offer any support groups on this topic at this time 14. Are there CIL member who would want to facilitate a safety-awareness / violence prevention group or co-facilitate this with a domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking advocate? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, please indicate their names. ___________________________ Independent Living Skills Training 15. Does your CIL provide any of the following types of IL skill training experiences related to abuse, violence or mistreatment? * Identifying violence, abuse and mistreatment ( Yes ( No ( Not sure * How to report violence to the police and Adult Protective Services ( Yes ( No ( Not sure * Knowing who to call for help in staying safe and getting out of a violent relationship ( Yes ( No ( Not sure * Working with your guardian or representative payee so they do not control you. ( Yes ( No ( Not sure * Learning how to TELL someone about the abuse / violence in your life ( Yes ( No ( Not sure * How to create a safety-plan / safety-kit to help you during violent episodes ( Yes ( No ( Not sure * Becoming aware of "red-flags" that indicates an abusive or potentially abusive person ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Personal Assistant Services 16. Does your CIL provide Personal Assistance (PA) services at any level (for example, a PA registry, emergency back-up PAs, training in PA management)? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure 17. If you provide PA services, do you offer any supports, education or advocacy related to personal assistance and abuse or violence? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, in what areas? o Recognizing and managing abuse by personal assistants / support people ( Yes ( No ( Not sure o Skills for recruiting, hiring, training, managing, and firing personal assistants or support people ( Yes ( No ( Not sure o Support person / personal assistant abuse awareness classes ( Yes ( No ( Not sure o Knowing how and where to locate emergency back-up personal assistants or support people ( Yes ( No ( Not sure Staff and Volunteer Training 18. Is education about abuse and violence against people with disabilities a part of: * Initial staff orientation? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure * On-going staff education? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure * Initial volunteer orientation? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure * On-going volunteer education? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure 19. Is there an established protocol for staff and volunteers to follow in supporting consumers in abuse or violence-related crises (for example, to do safety planning, abuse reporting or to contact community resources? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, what protocols do you have? __________________________ 20. Is there anyone designated at the CIL who has experience in dealing with abuse or violence who staff and volunteers can go to when they have concerns or questions? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure 21. Do new staff members / volunteers go through a screening process to determine whether they have been perpetrators before getting hired? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure 22. Do new employees go through a criminal background check? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure 23. Do you include your activities related to abuse and violence in your 704 documentation for RSA? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure 24. Thinking about your responses to these questions, do you think you personally can enhance your advocacy with people with disabilities in managing abuse and violence. ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, what do you think are the most important things that you could do? A. _____________________________________________________ B. _____________________________________________________ 25. Finally, do you think there are additional activities that your CIL could do to assist people with abuse and violence? ( Yes ( No ( Not sure If yes, what do you think are the most important things that your CIL could do? A. _____________________________________________________ B. _____________________________________________________ C. _____________________________________________________ Section Three: Strategic Planning Guide There are many ways that CILs can work on the problems of abuse and violence; for example, educating and empowering consumers, advocating for improvement of community supports and policies, working with domestic violence programs to establish accessible shelters or safe houses, and training personal assistants. This guide gives some ideas of what CIL staff and volunteers could do to address the problem of abuse and violence. Peer Counseling How would a Peer Mentoring / Peer Counseling relationship provide general support for a CIL consumer who is a survivor of abuse / violence / sexual assault? * listen to them without judging their situation * do not immediately step in to "help" them if they have not specifically asked for your help * assure them that the violence they are experiencing is NOT their fault * offer them concrete support and follow-through when they ask for help * provide them with resource numbers and be with them if they want your support while calling these contact numbers * incorporate safety-planning activities during your peer counseling / mentoring relationship How would a Peer Mentoring / Peer Counseling relationship provide help to a CIL consumer who wants to leave an abusive relationship? * work with the consumer to create an individualized safety-plan * discuss what would go into a safety-kit (e.g. additional medications, support people phone numbers, money, financial account information, clothes, assistive equipment items, etc.) * help them strategize about who is a trusted friend / family member / relative * help them arrange for back-up personal assistance if needed * help them arrange other details (transportation, housing, shelter stay, healthcare, etc.) What training could Peer Mentors receive to increase their awareness of abuse / domestic violence / safety planning? * locate or purchase violence prevention resources to have in the CIL office * encourage other CIL staff to become knowledgeable about violence against people with disabilities * attend a violence-awareness training workshop hosted by your local domestic violence / rape crisis / sexual assault prevention program * ask consumers about ways they would feel most comfortable talking about abuse / violence * work with your CIL board of directors to incorporate violence awareness / prevention strategies throughout each piece of the CIL program How could the Screening and Risk Assessment Tool be incorporated into the CIL program? If a consumer needed emergency equipment, what could your CIL do to help them? * 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 If a consumer needed emergency back-up personal assistance (PA), what could your CIL do to help them? * actively assist the consumer in locating alternative attendant services * refer to an established PA registry * contact local county-level disability agency to assess if county services are available * find out from other CIL consumers how they located emergency back-up PA's * work with the person to make an emergency contact sheet that includes family and friends and natural support networks - these people could be notified in the future as emergency back-up PA's and be included in the consumer's overall safety plan * contact a Certified Nursing Association or the Visiting Nurses Association if they provide any emergency back-up PA Advocacy Violence-prevention / abuse awareness information could be included in your newsletter / email list-serve? * dissemination of the Abuse Screening Tool * provide information about abuse awareness support groups, either facilitated by the CIL or partner abuse-awareness agencies * violence prevention information could be routinely included in newsletters * discussion of safety planning resources 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. 11 This project is 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 Lizzi McNeff 503.475.4307 mcneff@pdx.edu or Mary Oschwald, at 503.725.9602; oschwald@pdx.edu. Thank you for your attention to violence against women with disabilities, for your commitment to ending abuse against all people, and for holding perpetrators accountable. 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. 1This project is supported by Grant No. 2004-FW-AX-4019 – 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, for your commitment to ending abuse against all people, and for holding perpetrators accountable. ?? ?? ?? ?? 1 Centers for Independent Living VAA.doc 1 10