disAbility 
Advocacy 
Project 


Washington 
State’s 
Collaboration 
to 
Improve 
Domestic 
and 
Sexual 
Violence 
Advocacy 
for 
People 
with 
disAbilities 
and 
Deaf 
Individuals 


Charter 
adopted 
June 
11, 
2007 


Article 
1 
-Vision 
and 
Mission 
Statements, 
Goals, 
and 
Guiding 
Principles 
for 
our 
Work 


1-1 
Vision 
Statement 


The 
vision 
of 
the 
disAbility 
Advocacy 
Project 
is that 
people 
with 
disabilities 
and 
Deaf 
individuals 
who 
experience 
domestic or 
sexual 
violence 
are 
aware 
of 
the 
range 
of 
services that 
are 
available 
to 
them 
and 
they 
have 
the 
same 
access to 
those 
services as others. 
We 
believe 
that 
all 
people 
should 
have 
equal 
opportunity 
to 
participate 
in 
a 
society 
where 
Abilities, 
rather 
than 
disabilities, 
are 
recognized. 


1-2 
Mission 
Statement 


The 
mission 
of 
the 
disAbility 
Advocacy 
Project 
is to 
build 
partnerships 
between 
community-based 
domestic and 
sexual 
violence 
advocacy 
organizations, 
community-based 
disability 
advocacy 
organizations, 
and 
people 
with 
disabilities who 
experience 
domestic or 
sexual 
violence. 
These 
partnerships will 
work 
to 
improve 
access to 
services, 
reach 
out 
to 
other 
survivors with 
disabilities, 
and 
honor 
and 
respect 
the 
choices made 
by 
survivors. 


1-3 
Goals 
for 
our 
Work 


Our 
collaboration 
will: 


• 
Learn 
from 
people 
with 
disabilities about 
their 
experiences of 
domestic 
and 
sexual 
violence 
and 
the 
barriers they 
face 
when 
seeking 
services. 
• 
Improve 
the 
accessibility 
of 
our 
partner 
organizations (physically, 
programmatically, 
and 
attitudinally). 
• 
Identify 
current 
partner 
organization 
activities that 
can 
be 
informed 
and 
improved 
by 
the 
work 
of 
this project. 
• 
Support 
and 
enhance 
local 
partnerships between 
community-based 
domestic or 
sexual 
violence 
advocates and 
disability 
advocates. 
• 
Plan 
to 
sustain 
our 
work 
and 
the 
statewide 
network 
beyond 
the 
life 
of 
the 
grant. 
• 
Create 
a 
statewide 
network 
of 
individuals & 
organizations who 
will 
act 
to 
improve 
services for 
people 
with 
disabilities and 
Deaf 
individuals who 
experience 
domestic or 
sexual 
violence. 

• 
Provide 
technical 
assistance 
to 
domestic violence 
advocacy 
programs, 
sexual 
assault 
advocacy 
programs, 
and 
organizations that 
advocate 
for 
people 
with 
disabilities. 
1-4 
Guiding 
Principles 
-Checks 
and 
balances 
that 
drive 
our 
work 


When 
disagreements over 
proposed 
actions by 
the 
collaboration 
occur, 
the 
collaboration, 
when 
seeking 
to 
resolve 
those 
disagreements, 
will 
be 
guided 
by 
the 
following 
three 
questions. 


1. 
Does this action 
respect 
the 
survivor’s decisions? 
2. 
Does this action 
advance 
the 
accountability 
of 
individuals and 
groups to 
stop 
sexual 
and 
domestic violence? 
3. 
Does this action 
change 
the 
conditions that 
allow 
sexual 
and 
domestic 
violence 
to 
happen 
in 
our 
communities? 
Article 
2 
-Definition 
of 
Terms 


2-1 
Access 
and 
Accessibility 


When 
we 
talk 
about 
“access” 
or 
“accessibility,” 
we 
mean 
that 
individuals who 
have 
a 
disability 
have 
an 
equivalent 
ability 
to 
obtain 
services as other 
individuals. 
Access includes physical 
access, 
communication 
access, 
and 
programmatic access. 


2-2 
Co-advocacy 


When 
we 
talk 
about 
“co-advocacy,” 
we 
mean 
when 
advocates from 
different 
disciplines collaborate 
to 
provide 
the 
best 
possible 
solution 
for 
an 
advocacy 
problem. 


2-3 
Community-based 


When 
we 
talk 
about 
“community-based” 
advocacy 
services, 
we 
mean 
advocacy 
services that 
are 
provided 
based 
on 
the 
choices of 
the 
survivor, 
and 
are 
provided 
by 
advocates who 
do 
not 
work 
for 
a 
government 
agency 
or 
a 
for-profit 
organization. 
Community-based 
advocacy 
is different 
than 
system-based 
advocacy, 
where 
advocates work 
for 
a 
police 
department, 
prosecutor’s office, 
or 
government 
social 
service 
agency 
and 
provide 
services 
based 
on 
the 
wishes of 
that 
agency 
or 
office. 


2-4 
disAbility 


When 
we 
talk 
about 
“disability,” 
we 
mean 
anyone 
with 
mobility, 
sensory, 
or 
communication 
issues; 
mental 
illness, 
intellectual 
or 
developmental 
disabilities; 
anyone 
who 
is 
Deaf 
or 
has hearing 
loss. 
We 
also 
include 
people 
who 
have 
“invisible” 
disabilities, 
such 
as 
diabetes, 
traumatic 
brain 
injuries or 
substance 
use 
disorders. 


2 
disAbility 
Advocacy 
Project, 
Washington 
State 
Coalition 
Against 
Domestic 
Violence, 
June 
2007 



2-5 
Deaf 


When 
we 
talk 
about 
people 
who 
are 
“Deaf,” 
we 
mean 
individuals who 
identify 
as being 
a 
part 
of 
Deaf 
culture. 
We 
recognize 
that 
some 
Deaf 
individuals do 
not 
identify 
as having 
disabilities, 
but 
we 
include 
the 
Deaf 
community 
in 
our 
definition 
of 
disability 
to 
ensure 
their 
inclusion 
in 
our 
work 
and 
to 
recognize 
that 
Deaf 
individuals who 
are 
abused 
do 
not 
have 
the 
same 
access to 
services as other 
individuals. 


2-6 
Domestic 
Violence 


When 
we 
talk 
about 
“domestic violence,” 
we 
mean 
when 
someone 
in 
an 
intimate 
relationship 
tries to 
control 
the 
other 
person 
through 
fear, 
threats, 
or 
violence. 
The 
person 
who 
tries to 
gain 
this control 
is an 
abuser 
and 
the 
abuse 
can 
happen 
in 
many 
ways. 
The 
abuser 
can 
gain 
control 
by 
making 
the 
other 
person 
feel 
isolated, 
afraid 
of 
physical 
harm, 
afraid 
of 
the 
loss of 
their 
money 
or 
their 
independence. 
Abusers often 
criticize 
the 
other 
person 
to 
make 
them 
feel 
bad 
about 
themselves. 
Sexual 
violence 
can 
also 
be 
a 
way 
the 
abuser 
gains control. 
The 
abuser 
may 
get 
back 
at 
the 
person 
if 
they 
try 
to 
resist 
or 
tell 
other 
people 
about 
the 
abuse. 
An 
abuser 
can 
be 
a 
boyfriend, 
girlfriend, 
husband, 
wife, 
or 
a 
caregiver/personal 
attendant. 


2-7 
Sexual 
Violence 


When 
we 
talk 
about 
“sexual 
violence,” 
we 
mean 
when 
a 
person 
is forced 
or 
manipulated 
into 
doing 
something 
sexual 
that 
the 
person 
doesn’t 
want 
to 
do. 
Sexual 
violence 
can 
be 
an 
assault 
by 
someone 
that 
is 
known 
or 
a 
stranger. 
It 
also 
includes unwanted 
sexual 
comments, 
violating 
a 
person’s boundaries, 
or 
sexual 
harassment. 
Sexual 
violence 
is any 
behavior 
of 
a 
sexual 
nature 
that 
makes you 
feel 
uncomfortable. 


2-8 
Stalking 


When 
we 
talk 
about 
“stalking,” 
we 
mean 
when 
an 
abuser 
repeatedly 
torments or 
terrorizes another 
person. 
Stalkers often 
send 
annoying, 
embarrassing, 
threatening 
or 
obscene 
e-mail, 
letters or 
phone 
calls. 
The 
stalker 
may 
follow 
or 
lay 
in 
wait 
for 
the 
victim 
or 
damage 
their 
property. 
A 
stalker 
may 
threaten 
the 
victim, 
the 
victim’s children, 
relatives, 
or 
pets. 
Stalkers often 
use 
e-mail 
or 
other 
electronic devices. 
A 
stalker 
may 
repeatedly 
send 
the 
victim 
unwanted 
gifts. 


Article 
3 
-Values 
& 
Assumptions 


3-1 
Self-determination 
of 
Survivors 


We 
recognize 
that 
individuals are 
generally 
best 
able 
to 
maintain 
their 
safety 
when 
they 
control 
their 
services and 
supports. 
Therefore, 
our 
approach 
focuses on 
the 
wishes and 
choices of 
survivors 
rather 
than 
on 
what 
a 
service 
provider 
may 
perceive 
to 
be 
in 
the 
survivor’s best 
interest. 
We 
will 
work 
to 


3 
disAbility 
Advocacy 
Project, 
Washington 
State 
Coalition 
Against 
Domestic 
Violence, 
June 
2007 



strengthen 
the 
autonomy 
and 
safety 
of 
survivors with 
disabilities in 
their 
own 
communities by: 


• 
Increasing 
advocacy 
skills and 
encouraging 
co-advocacy 
between 
domestic and 
sexual 
violence 
and 
disability 
advocacy 
organizations. 
• 
Supporting 
leadership 
by 
survivors with 
disabilities to 
identify 
strategies that 
increase 
independence 
and 
safety. 
• 
Improving 
access to 
services at 
domestic and 
sexual 
violence 
organizations. 
• 
Identifying 
policies, 
practices and 
funding 
systems at 
the 
state 
and 
local 
level 
which 
create 
barriers to 
access for 
survivors with 
disabilities. 
• 
Documenting 
a 
wide 
range 
of 
strategies that 
may 
be 
utilized 
by 
community-based 
advocacy 
organizations that 
lead 
to 
the 
removal 
of 
barriers to 
services. 
• 
Disseminating 
those 
strategies to 
community-based 
advocacy 
organizations throughout 
the 
state. 
3-2 
Survivors 
are 
the 
Experts 


The 
collaboration 
believes that 
the 
primary 
experts on 
violence 
against 
people 
with 
disabilities are 
the 
individuals who 
experience 
that 
violence. 
The 
expertise 
of 
survivors will 
inform 
the 
work 
of 
the 
collaboration. 
We 
will 
include 
survivors with 
disabilities in 
all 
stages of 
our 
collaboration. 
Specifically, 
we 
will 
seek 
their 
input 
during 
planning, 
implementation, 
and 
evaluation. 


3-3 
Building 
a 
Broader 
Network 
in 
the 
Community 


Our 
collaboration 
will 
grow 
beyond 
our 
initial 
partnership. 
The 
collaboration 
will 
develop 
a 
message 
that 
appeals to 
the 
larger 
community. 
We 
will 
seek 
to 
create 
a 
broad 
network 
of 
advocates, 
survivors and 
other 
interested 
community 
members. 
We 
will 
invite 
individuals and 
organizations within 
our 
broad 
network 
to 
take 
action 
in 
the 
community. 


3-4 
Domestic 
and 
Sexual 
Violence 
Programs 


We 
are 
committed 
to 
making 
community-based 
domestic violence 
and 
sexual 
assault 
programs 
fully 
accessible. 
We 
will 
encourage 
them 
to 
create 
relationships with 
disability 
advocates and 
organizations. 


3-5 
Disability 
Advocacy 
Organizations 


We 
are 
committed 
to 
disability 
advocacy 
organizations 
becoming 
more 
familiar 
with 
the 
dynamics of 
domestic 
and 
sexual 
violence. 
We 
will 
encourage 
them 
to 
create 
relationships 
with 
community-based 
domestic and 
sexual 
violence 
advocates and 
their 
organizations. 


3-6 
Integrating 
the 
Work 
into 
the 
Partner 
Organizations 


Each 
partner 
commits to 
integrating 
culturally 
competent, 
respectful, 
accessible 
services into 
their 
agencies, 
ensuring 
that 
access for 
people 
with 
disabilities is not 
merely 
an 
“add-on” 
issue. 
Our 
collaboration 
will 
model 
the 
changes we 
wish 
to 
see 
in 
the 
community 
as a 
whole. 


4 
disAbility 
Advocacy 
Project, 
Washington 
State 
Coalition 
Against 
Domestic 
Violence, 
June 
2007 



Article 
4 
-Member 
Organizations, 
Roles 
& 
Contributions 


4-1 
Partner 
Organizations 


There 
are 
four 
partner 
organizations in 
the 
collaboration. 
They 
are: 


• 
Washington 
State 
Coalition 
Against 
Domestic 
Violence 
(WSCADV). 
WSCADV 
is the 
leading 
voice 
to 
end 
domestic violence 
in 
Washington 
state. 
Founded 
in 
1990 
by 
domestic violence 
survivors and 
their 
allies, 
the 
Coalition 
is 
a 
non-profit 
network 
of 
65 
independent 
member 
programs that 
serve 
survivors across the 
state. 
WSCADV 
is committed 
to 
ending 
domestic violence 
through 
advocacy 
and 
action 
for 
social 
change. 
• 
Abused 
Deaf 
Women’s 
Advocacy 
Services 
(ADWAS). 
ADWAS 
is committed 
to 
providing 
services to 
Deaf 
and 
Deaf-Blind 
victims of 
sexual 
assault 
and/or 
domestic violence. 
The 
mission 
of 
ADWAS 
is a 
belief 
that 
violence 
is a 
learned 
behavior 
and 
it 
should 
not 
be 
tolerated. 
ADWAS 
was established 
in 
1986 
and 
is located 
in 
Seattle, 
Washington. 
The 
ADWAS 
model 
has been 
replicated 
in 
14 
other 
cities 
across the 
United 
States. 
ADWAS 
is committed 
to 
providing 
accessible 
and 
safe 
housing 
for 
Deaf 
and 
Deaf-Blind 
women 
and 
their 
children. 
• 
Disability 
Rights 
Washington 
(DRW) 
DRW 
is a 
private 
non-profit 
organization 
that 
protects the 
rights of 
people 
with 
disabilities statewide. 
Their 
mission 
is to 
advance 
the 
dignity, 
equality, 
and 
self-determination 
of 
people 
with 
disabilities. 
DRW 
works to 
pursue 
justice 
on 
matters related 
to 
human 
and 
legal 
rights. 
DRW 
works for 
change 
in 
policies, 
laws, 
and 
systems that 
promote 
freedom 
from 
abuse 
and 
neglect, 
legal 
rights and 
responsibilities, 
adequately 
funded 
supports and 
services, 
and 
communities that 
involve 
everyone. 


• 
Washington 
Coalition 
of 
Sexual 
Assault 
Programs 
(WCSAP) 
WCSAP’s mission 
is to 
unite 
agencies engaged 
in 
the 
elimination 
of 
sexual 
violence 
through 
education, 
advocacy, 
victim 
services and 
social 
change. 
WCSAP 
views sexual 
assault 
as a 
means of 
power, 
control, 
and 
manipulation 
of 
others and 
as a 
social 
phenomenon 
which 
adversely 
affects adults and 
children. 
WCSAP 
supports efforts to 
create 
an 
atmosphere 
of 
non-violence 
through 
social 
change 
and 
is 
committed 
to 
empowering 
survivors and 
eliminating 
sexual 
assault. 


4-2 
Memorandum 
of 
Understanding 


Each 
partner 
agency 
has signed 
a 
memorandum 
of 
understanding 
(MOU) 
that 


describes the 
roles and 
responsibilities of 
each 
partner 
organization 
and 
the 


history 
of 
the 
collaboration 
(dating 
to 
the 
year 
2000). 
The 
MOU 
has been 


signed 
by 
the 
executive 
director 
of 
each 
organization. 


5 
disAbility 
Advocacy 
Project, 
Washington 
State 
Coalition 
Against 
Domestic 
Violence, 
June 
2007 



4-3 
Lead 
Agency 


WSCADV 
will 
act 
as the 
lead 
agency 
for 
the 
project, 
managing 
and 
coordinating 
day-to-day 
grant 
activities. 
Activities will 
include 
coordinating 
meetings, 
managing 
communications among 
partners, 
administering 
grant 
funds, 
maintaining 
a 
work 
schedule, 
and 
providing 
fiscal 
and 
program 
accountability. 


4-4 
Fulfillment 
of 
Responsibilities 


All 
partner 
organizations 
agree 
to 
collaborate 
with 
the 
other 
partners and 
to 
take 
on 
responsibilities and 
tasks that 
are 
consistent 
with 
the 
roles and 
responsibilities described 
in 
the 
MOU. 
Each 
partner 
agrees to 
complete 
tasks 
and 
activities as agreed 
upon, 
including 
activities relating 
to 
the 
development 
of 
an 
in-depth 
needs assessment, 
analysis of 
collected 
data, 
the 
creation 
and 
implementation 
of 
a 
strategic plan, 
the 
development 
of 
products, 
and 
project 
evaluation. 
Each 
partner 
agrees to 
actively 
integrate 
the 
work 
of 
the 
collaboration 
into 
their 
own 
organization. 


4-5 
Building 
and 
Enhancing 
Relationships 


Each 
partner 
in 
the 
collaboration 
has extensive 
existing 
relationships with 
many 
survivors, 
advocates, 
and 
advocacy 
or 
provider 
groups. 
The 
collaboration 
will 
foster 
these 
relationships and 
work 
with 
these 
groups to 
identify 
technical 
assistance 
needs through 
cross-discipline 
collaboration 
and 
outreach 
initiatives. 


4-6 
Sharing 
Expertise 


Each 
partner 
has knowledge 
and 
expertise 
that 
is valuable 
to 
the 
collaboration. 
The 
partners are 
committed 
to 
sharing 
their 
own 
knowledge 
among 
the 
core 
collaborators and 
in 
the 
broader 
network. 
Additionally, 
each 
partner 
is committed 
to 
learning 
from 
the 
knowledge 
and 
expertise 
of 
the 
other 
partners. 


4-7 
Sustainability 
of 
the 
Collaboration 


Each 
partner 
organization 
is committed 
to 
the 
sustainability 
of 
the 
project. 
Each 
partner 
will 
work 
to 
develop 
and 
implement 
a 
sustainability 
plan 
to 
support 
project 
activities into 
the 
future. 


Article 
5 
-Policies, 
Practice 
and 
Work 
Schedule 


5-1 
Collaboration 
Structure 


The 
collaboration 
will 
have 
a 
structure 
that 
encourages group 
participation 
in 
decisions and 
individual 
responsibility 
for 
the 
completion 
of 
agreed 
upon 
activities. 
No 
one 
partner 
is in 
charge 
of 
establishing 
policy 
or 
procedures, 
assigning 
tasks, 
or 
making 
decisions that 
affect 
the 
entire 
collaboration. 
Such 
decisions are 
made 
on 
a 
consensus basis with 
all 
partners at 
the 
table. 
WSCADV 
shall 
have 
responsibility 
for 
developing 
agendas, 
facilitating 


6 
disAbility 
Advocacy 
Project, 
Washington 
State 
Coalition 
Against 
Domestic 
Violence, 
June 
2007 



meetings 
and 
providing 
reasonable 
accommodations to 
participants and 
guests. 


5-2 
Decision 
Making 
Process 


Decisions affecting 
the 
collaboration 
may 
be 
made 
at 
scheduled 
partner 
meetings or 
through 
phone, 
email 
or 
other 
direct 
contact. 
Decisions will 
be 
made 
by 
consensus 
of 
the 
collaboration. 
Meetings will 
be 
run 
in 
a 
manner 
that 
encourages participation, 
trust 
and 
full 
involvement 
of 
all 
partners. 
The 
collaboration 
will 
refer 
to 
the 
Mission 
and 
Vision 
statements 
and 
to 
the 
Guiding 
Principles to 
provide 
guidance 
in 
decision-making. 


5-3 
Conflict 
Resolution 
Process 


When 
conflicts or 
disagreements arise, 
they 
will 
be 
addressed 
by 
all 
parties in 
a 
manner 
that 
respects the 
differing 
approaches, 
constraints and 
values of 
the 
organizations 
involved. 
All 
partners 
are 
invested 
in 
resolving 
conflicts 
within 
the 
collaboration 
and 
the 
collaborative 
has several 
members who 
are 
skilled 
and 
experienced 
facilitators. 
Any 
partner 
may 
be 
asked 
to 
facilitate 
a 
discussion 
aimed 
at 
working 
out 
a 
problem 
to 
everyone’s satisfaction, 
and 
a 
variety 
of 
techniques may 
be 
employed 
to 
achieve 
consensus. 
In 
the 
event 
that 
internal 
facilitation 
fails to 
resolve 
the 
conflict, 
the 
collaborative 
may 
seek 
an 
outside, 
experienced 
facilitator 
to 
assist 
the 
group 
in 
reaching 
a 
consensual 
resolution 
to 
the 
problem. 
Any 
outside 
facilitator 
will 
be 
chosen 
by 
the 
group 
and 
be 
acceptable 
to 
all 
of 
the 
involved 
parties. 


5-4 
Internal 
Communication 
Plan 


The 
collaboration 
is committed 
to 
developing 
and 
sustaining 
effective 
communication 
among 
all 
partner 
organizations. 
The 
collaboration 
has an 
internal 
communication 
plan 
that 
includes, 
but 
is not 
limited 
to 
the 
following 
elements: 


• 
The 
lead 
agency 
shall 
notify 
the 
partners of 
meetings and 
proposed 
agenda 
items for 
those 
meetings in 
a 
timely 
fashion. 
Any 
partner 
may 
request 
that 
additional 
subjects be 
addressed 
by 
the 
group 
at 
anytime. 
• 
Each 
partner 
is committed 
to 
maintaining 
open 
and 
forthright 
communication 
between 
all 
other 
partners. 
It 
is expected 
that 
communication 
is not 
limited 
to 
scheduled 
meetings, 
but 
is 
ongoing. 
Partners are 
encouraged 
to 
inform 
other 
partners of 
events that 
are 
relevant 
to 
our 
work. 
• 
Each 
partner 
is committed 
to 
resolving 
conflicts in 
a 
forthright 
and 
responsible 
manner 
(see 
5-3). 
• 
Partner 
organizations will 
actively 
maintain 
a 
presence 
at 
appropriate 
conferences, 
meetings and 
gatherings sponsored 
by 
other 
partner 
agencies. 
• 
Each 
partner 
is committed 
to 
ensuring 
that 
every 
partner 
has 
equivalent 
access to 
communication 
within 
the 
collaboration. 
Interpreters shall 
be 
available 
at 
all 
meetings and 
other 
gatherings 
7 
disAbility 
Advocacy 
Project, 
Washington 
State 
Coalition 
Against 
Domestic 
Violence, 
June 
2007 



where 
a 
partner 
requests them. 
The 
requesting 
partner 
shall 
be 
able 
to 
identify 
her 
or 
his preferred 
interpreters. 


• 
Communication 
between 
partners is not 
limited 
to 
scheduled 
meeting 
time. 
The 
collaboration 
acknowledges that 
significant 
work 
is 
accomplished 
during 
breaks, 
meal 
times and 
other 
non-working 
time 
when 
partners are 
gathered. 
Each 
partner 
shall 
have 
equivalent 
access 
to 
effective 
communication 
during 
these 
informal 
work 
opportunities. 
Whenever 
possible, 
interpreters, 
assistive 
technology 
or 
other 
reasonable 
accommodations shall 
be 
available 
upon 
request 
to 
ensure 
effective 
communication. 
5-5 
Partner 
Meetings 


The 
collaboration 
will 
plan 
to 
meet 
at 
least 
ten 
times annually, 
with 
scheduled 
meetings 
lasting 
two 
hours. 
The 
partners will 
communicate 
as 
needed 
by 
phone, 
email, 
or 
in 
person 
between 
scheduled 
meetings. 
The 
work 
of 
the 
collaboration 
will 
be 
reviewed 
at 
each 
meeting. 
Completed 
tasks 
will 
be 
noted 
and 
outcomes discussed. 
Potential 
work 
plans 
will 
be 
considered 
and 
the 
responsibility 
for 
completing 
any 
specific tasks will 
be 
mutually 
agreed 
upon. 
The 
need 
to 
adjust, 
update 
or 
alter 
current 
work 
plans will 
be 
discussed 
and 
changed 
on 
a 
consensus basis. 
When 
work 
plans 
need 
to 
be 
discussed 
prior 
to 
a 
meeting, 
the 
partners will 
communicate 
by 
phone, 
email 
or 
in 
person. 


5-6 
Confidentiality 
Plan 


The 
collaboration 
acknowledges that 
confidentiality 
plays a 
key 
role 
in 
promoting 
the 
safety 
of 
survivors. 
Each 
partner 
organization 
has shared 
their 
own 
organization’s confidentiality 
policies with 
others in 
the 
collaborative. 
The 
organizations’ 
policies are 
highly 
compatible 
and 
the 
partners have 
agreed 
that 
no 
communication, 
documentation 
or 
other 
information 
that 
could 
identify 
a 
survivor 
shall 
be 
shared 
absent 
a 
signed 
release 
from 
the 
survivor. 


The 
subject 
of 
“mandatory 
reporting” 
raises complex 
issues and 
is 
worth 
discussing 
here. 
Washington 
state 
law 
describes individuals who 
are 
required 
to 
report 
suspected 
cases of 
abuse 
or 
neglect 
of 
“vulnerable 
adults” 
to 
state 
authorities and, 
in 
some 
cases, 
to 
law 
enforcement. 
Additionally, 
funding 
requirements carry 
similar 
requirements in 
some 
cases. 
The 
term 
vulnerable 
adult, 
as defined 
in 
the 
law, 
includes some 
individuals who 
have 
disabilities. 


Among 
members of 
our 
collaborative, 
some 
partner 
organizations have 
mandatory 
reporting 
requirements, 
while 
others do 
not. 
The 
collaboration 
recognizes that 
mandatory 
reporting 
requirements may 
eliminate 
or 
compromise 
some 
choices a 
survivor 
may 
choose 
to 
make. 
Therefore, 
prior 
to 
engaging 
in 
any 
discussion 
of 
issues of 
domestic or 
sexual 
violence 
when 
a 
vulnerable 
adult 
may 
be 
present, 
the 
collaborative 
will 
take 
the 
following 
steps. 


8 
disAbility 
Advocacy 
Project, 
Washington 
State 
Coalition 
Against 
Domestic 
Violence, 
June 
2007 



1. 
The 
individual 
who 
may 
be 
a 
vulnerable 
adult 
shall 
be 
made 
aware 
of 
mandatory 
reporting 
requirements and 
potential 
implications. 
2. 
This communication 
shall 
be 
conducted 
in 
a 
manner 
ensuring 
that 
the 
individual 
understands the 
law 
and 
its implications, 
and 
has an 
opportunity 
to 
decide 
whether 
to 
continue 
the 
conversation 
and/or 
request 
that 
certain 
partners not 
be 
present 
during 
the 
discussion. 
5-7 
External 
Communications 
Plan 


The 
collaboration 
is committed 
to 
sharing 
its 
work 
with 
its broader 
network 
and 
with 
the 
community. 
The 
collaboration 
shall 
develop 
an 
external 
communication 
plan 
that 
includes, 
but 
is not 
limited 
to 
the 
following 
elements: 


• 
Create 
and 
maintain 
an 
email 
distribution 
list 
to 
inform 
partners, 
the 
broader 
network 
and 
the 
community 
of 
activities planned 
or 
completed, 
information 
gleaned, 
and 
successes and 
challenges encountered 
by 
the 
collaboration. 
• 
Develop 
and 
maintain 
relationships with 
other 
advocates, 
survivors, 
and 
community 
members interested 
in 
our 
work. 
• 
Actively 
seek 
out 
and 
maintain 
a 
presence 
at 
conferences, 
meetings 
and 
gatherings of 
people 
with 
disabilities and 
advocates. 
Develop 
strategies and 
tools 
to 
inform 
and 
invite 
participation 
in 
our 
work. 
• 
Creatively 
pursue 
opportunities to 
inform 
advocates and 
people 
with 
disabilities about 
the 
work 
of 
the 
collaboration 
and 
how 
the 
community 
may 
become 
part 
of 
the 
work. 
5-8 
Utilization 
of 
Resources 


The 
collaboration 
is committed 
to 
efficient 
and 
effective 
planning 
for 
the 
utilization 
of 
resources. 
Each 
partner 
organization 
will 
identify 
areas and 
issues about 
which 
the 
collaboration 
may 
benefit 
from 
technical 
assistance 
from 
the 
Vera 
Institute 
for 
Justice. 


5-9 
Accessibility 
Plans 


Each 
partner 
agrees 
to 
develop 
and 
implement 
an 
internal 
agency 
plan 
to 
increase 
accessibility 
that 
addresses service 
and 
employment 
issues. 


5-10 
Changes 
to 
the 
Collaboration 
Structure 


Any 
partner 
may 
suggest 
organizational 
changes to 
the 
collaboration. 
Proposed 
changes shall 
be 
discussed 
at 
subsequent 
meetings. 


5-11 
Work 
Plan 


The 
collaboration 
work 
plan 
will 
include 
the 
following 
activities: 


June 
2007 
In 
consultation 
with 
the 
Vera 
Institute 
for 
Justice 
(Vera) 
and 
the 
Office 
on 
Violence 
against 
Women 
(OVW), 
finalize 
a 


9 
disAbility 
Advocacy 
Project, 
Washington 
State 
Coalition 
Against 
Domestic 
Violence, 
June 
2007 



collaboration 
charter 
and 
needs assessment 


plan. 


July 
– 
Oct. 
2007 
Implement 
the 
needs assessment 
plan, 
compile 
data. 
Nov. 
– 
Dec. 
2007 
Analyze 
data, 
create 
needs assessment 
findings. 
In 
consultation 
with 
Vera 
and 
OVW, 
create 
a 
strategic plan 
for 
2008 
– 
2009. 


Jan. 
2008 
– 
Sept. 
2009 
Implement 
strategic 
plan, 
develop 
a 
sustainability 
plan, 
evaluate 
project 
activities. 


This 
project 
is 
supported 
by 
Grant 
No. 
2006-FW-AX-K015 
awarded 
by 
the 
Office 
on 
Violence 
Against 
Women, 
U.S. 
Department 
of 
Justice. 
The 
opinions, 
findings, 
conclusions, 
and 
recommendations 
expressed 
in 
this 
publication 
are 
those 
of 
the 
authors 
and 
do 
not 
necessarily 
reflect 
the 
views 
of 
the 
Department 
of 
Justice, 
Office 
on 
Violence 
Against 
Women. 


10 
disAbility 
Advocacy 
Project, 
Washington 
State 
Coalition 
Against 
Domestic 
Violence, 
June 
2007