Transcript Domestic Violence Initiative

Domestic Violence
Initiative
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Serving Women, Men, & their Children w/ Disabilities
Founded in 1985
www.dviforwomen.org
HISTORY
Domestic Violence Initiative was founded in 1985 by the late
Laura Hershey and Executive Director, Sharon Hickman. DVI
began with Ms. Sharon Hickman identifying a group of
people that had no visibility in the community of Colorado.
There were no community based organizations world
supporting victims living with disabilities.
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She began conducting support groups for Women with
disabilities. What she found during those group sessions is
that the number one concern for these women was their
vulnerability to violence. Even if they reported no one
believed them. There was no where for them to go. They felt
trapped and isolated.
Sharon asked for help from Denver Center for Independent
Living to develop services for these women and their children.
With the help of Steve Segal, and United Way she was funded
by a grant to begin a non-profit to provide direct victim
services for this underserved population….AND THE REST IS
HISTORY!
Crimes
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Domestic Violence Initiative
(DVI) serve persons living
with disabilities who are
victims of domestic violence,
sexual assault, caregiver/elder
abuse, and/ or stalking.
Our safety related services
include:
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Services
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Affordable Housing Counseling
Case Management
Community Education
Community Resource Navigation
Crisis Intervention Services
Direct Court Support for Victims & System
Agencies
Education & Awareness
Emergency Financial Services
Medical Accompaniment
Peer Support
Relocation Services
Referrals
Safety Planning
Statewide Advocacy Services
Americans with
Disabilities Act
(ADA)
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The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of a
disability in employment, State and local government,
public accommodations, commercial facilities,
transportation, and telecommunications. It also applies
to the United States Congress.
Why is the ADA important for those that
serve as victim advocates?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) gives civil rights
protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those
provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex,
national origin, age, and religion.
- Short Answer: SERVING & TREATING
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILIITES, EQUALLY, IS THE
LAW!! NO EXCUSES & NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE!
- “ Title II covers all activities of State and local
governments regardless of the government’s entity size or receipt of
Federal funding. Title II requires that State and local governments
give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all
of their programs, services, and activities” (ADA).
What is the Definition of Disability?
Legal Definition
An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a
person who has a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits one or more major life activities, a
person who has a history or record of such an impairment,
or a person who is perceived by others as having such an
impairment (ADA).
 This definition is needed and important for all persons living with
disabilities who are in need of and/or are looking for services. When they
are looking for things such as housing, benefits, etc. they need to know
how the law defines a person who is living with a disability.
 It affects the criminal justice system because if there is a crime against a
person living with a disability, those charges against the perpetrator may
be higher. However, the victim living with a disability will need be
defined under the legal definition for those charges to be heightened.
DVI serves any victim that identifies as living
with ANY type of disability.
Physical
Mental
DISABILITIES
Intellectual
Developmental
While the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Community do not
identify as persons living with a disability, DVI will
provide services to this community.
Balance Disorder
Somatosensory
Impairment
Nonvisible Disabilities*
Nonvisible Disabilities include but not limited to the following chronic
disorders: diabetes, asthma, fibromyalgia, lupus, etc.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
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Per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Traumatic
brain injury (TBI) is a serious public health problem in
the United States. Each year, traumatic brain injuries
contribute to a substantial number of deaths and cases
of permanent disability. Every year, at least 1.7 million
TBIs occur either as an isolated injury or along with
other injuries.1
A TBI is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or
a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal
function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head
result in a TBI. The severity of a TBI may range from
“mild,” i.e., a brief change in mental status or
consciousness to “severe,” i.e., an extended period of
unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. The
majority of TBIs that occur each year are concussions
or other forms of mild TBI.2
CDC’s research and programs work to prevent TBI
and help people better recognize, respond, and
recover if a TBI occurs.
Domestic violence (DV) is a common cause of brain injury in women, who
constitute the vast majority of victims of severe physical violence by an
intimate partner. The head and face are common targets of intimate partner
assaults, and victims often suffer head, neck and facial injuries. One study of
women in shelter found that the vast majority had been hit in the head or
severely shaken by their partners, most more than once. The more times they
had been hit in the head or shaken, the more severe, and the more frequent,
were their symptoms.
 A victim of domestic violence may suffer a TBI without knowing it if
she had no severe trauma or obvious symptoms at first, or if she did not
lose consciousness, or received no medical care.
COMMON SYMPTOMS
TBI can lead to impairments, ranging from to mild to severe, in cognition
(thinking), emotions, behavior, and physical functioning. The person with a TBI
may or may not recognize that they are having problems. The most common
symptoms reported are headaches, severe fatigue, memory loss, depression, and
difficulty communicating. Other problems experienced by people who have brain
injuries include:
 Cognitive difficulties, such as decreased ability to concentrate, pay attention and
solve problems, and communication difficulties.
 Difficulty with executive functioning, such as difficulty making decisions,
considering long-term consequences, taking initiative, feeling motivated, and
starting and finishing actions; dis-inhibition and impulsiveness.
 Changes in behavior, personality or temperament, such as irritability, difficulty
tolerating frustration, and emotional expression that doesn’t fit the situation.
 Physical effects, such as vision problems, insomnia, loss of coordination, and
seizures.
SCREENING
The New York State Office for the Prevention of domestic violence suggest
providers ALWAYS screen victims. Domestic violence service providers.
Screen everyone who seeks DV services for TBI. A brief screening tool that
was designed to be used by professionals who are not TBI experts is the
HELPS.2 HELPS is an acronym for the most important questions to ask:
H = Were you hit in the head? E = Did you seek emergency room treatment?
L = Did you lose consciousness? (Not everyone who suffers a TBI loses
consciousness.) P = Are you having problems with concentration and
memory? S = Did you experience sickness or other physical problems
following the injury (NYS OPDV, 2013)?
 If you suspect a victim has a brain injury, or she answers “yes” to any of
these questions, help her get an evaluation by a medical or
neuropsychological professional – especially if she has suffered
repeated brain injuries, which may decrease her ability to recover and
increase her risk of death. If she wishes, reach out to the TBI service
provider with information about DV, what support she needs, and what
services are available to her. Look for ways to work together.
ACCESSIBILITY
The Office for Victims of Crime States, “Despite the high rate of
crime estimated to be committed against people with
disabilities, many victim assistance agencies report that they
rarely serve crime victims from this population, not because
they don’t exist, but because acts and that acts of physical
aggression, domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes
against persons with disabilities often go unreported” (OVC,
2012). Question: Why?
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ATTITUDNIAL
ACCESSIBILITY
-How comfortable
are you are people
w/disabilities?
-Preconceived
Notions
-The Spread Affect
-Fear
-Denial (Hidden
Disabilities)
LACK OF NECESSITIES
-INCOME
-MOBILITY
- RESOURCES
-FAMILY SUPPORT
STIGMA (BRANDING)
DVI STATS
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99% of the survivors DVI
served in 2012 fell BELOW the
federal poverty guidelines.
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More than 50% of the
survivors DVI served in 2012
experienced chronic
homelessness.
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More than 50% of the
survivors DVI served in 2012
have no transportation.
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More than 75% of the
survivors served by DVI have
been living the cycle of
victimization since childhood.
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More than 30% of the
survivors served by DVI are
repeat clients.
Determinants
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By now you are aware of some of the myriad of
issues and factors that are attributed to why people
with disabilities do not report crime(s), receive
adequate services, and/or any services at all.
BEGINNING THE WORK
STARTS HERE
WHILE REVIEWING SOME OF DVI’S CASE
STUDIES, LET’S THINK ABOUT:
1.) CHALLENGES TO ACCESSING
SERVICES
2.) THINGS TO CONSIDER WHILE
PROVIDING CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE SERVICES.
Challenges to
Accessing Victim
Services
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Attitudes and Labels
Knowledge of the
disabilities
Effective
Communication
Physical Access &
Mobility
Fear of
Consequences
Isolation
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Things to Consider
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Immediate Needs
Long-term Needs
Self-Sufficiency &
Independence
How valuable are
the resources &
referrals you will
provide?
Safety Planning
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What does it look
like?
QUESTIONS ADVOCATES MUST ADDRESS WHILE
SERVING VICTIMS WITH DISABILITIES:
1) What are the challenges to accessing DV, SA,
Caregiver/Elder Abuse, and/or program services? And, as
the advocate, how will you address them?
2) From the perspective of the DV, SA, …and disability
advocate, what are client’s strengths and how will you
build on them?
3) How would you handle the divisive atmosphere or discord
between your client and __________? What would you say
to your client and __________?
4) How would you assist your client in planning for short and
long –term needs?
5) What strategies would you discuss with your client to
support their safety in general?
CASE STUDY #1
“Fall” (pseudonym) is a 62 year old woman with Uterine Cancer
and severe Anxiety and Bi Polar disorder. She fled the abuser
(husband) and relocated to Colorado to be with her children.
Upon her arrival, she applied for Food Stamps and Medicaid.
Additionally, she needed to find an attorney to file for divorce.
She has been married to her abuser for over thirty- five years. She
was denied all possible benefits (Health Insurance and Food
stamps) because she and her husband shared assets. She now
needed an attorney for more than a divorce. She was denied pro
bono legal representation.
CASE STUDY #2
“Winter” (pseudonym) is a transgender woman suffering from extreme
Depression, PTSD, Prostate Cancer, a Speech Impediment, and Anxiety
Disorder. She uses a wheelchair 80% of the day because her Neuropathy has
worsened. “Winter” is a victim of domestic violence. During the recent
attack, before fleeing, she suffered a blow to the head; which doctors later
stated that she suffered a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). “ Winter” left and
was afraid to go back home. Winter called a local shelter and was told that
she wouldn’t be able to stay there because her driver’s license didn’t state she
was a female.
CASE STUDY #3
“Spring” (pseudonym) is a victim of domestic violence. She is in
imminent danger. After calling to check for availability, her victim
advocate refers her to a shelter. Upon calling to inquire and proceed
through the intake process, “Spring” is asked if she has any
disabilities. “Spring” states that she has severe PTSD, Diabetes, and
due to the severity of her Neuropathy, she utilizes a wheelchair.
The case manager determined that the shelter wouldn’t be a good fit
for her and apologized.
BEST
PRACTICES!!!!
KNOWLEDGE IS
POWER!!!
It is important to have knowledge of
issues related to disability. It is not
enough to rely on your supervisor
and/or victim services coordinator to
have all of the answers.
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Remember to Research
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Ask Questions
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Serve with integrity
Ethics
Empathy
Equality