The End Abuse of People with Disabilities monthly newsletter is our opportunity to spotlight promising practices, programs, and resources at the intersection of domestic violence, sexual assault, and disability. This month we honor Black survivors with disabilities and recognize Juneteenth. We also highlight the needs of LGBTQIA+ survivors with disabilities in honor of Pride Month.
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Observing Juneteenth and Recognizing the Needs of Survivors of Color with Disabilities |
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Juneteenth (June 19th) is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Even after slavery ended, vestiges of its inequities still existed. They continue today and contribute to the increased rates of victimization that Black survivors face.
For example, Black people are more likely to experience domestic and sexual violence, according the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. And, according to the CDC, 1 in 4 Black people in the United States has a disability, as compared to 1 in 5 non-Hispanic white people. Black people with disabilities may experience higher rates of victimization and face unique barriers in seeking and receiving services. We must recognize these barriers and explore solutions that are equitable and responsive to their needs. And we must never forget the oppression that these barriers are rooted in.
To help you learn more about the impact of racism on serving survivors with disabilities, we have compiled some resources:
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Caminar Latino created a guide to Transformational Collaboration to provide information to mainstream organizations on how to use a racial equity lens when partnering with other agencies, especially culturally specific organizations.
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The FISA Foundation has been hosting a series of webinars on the intersection of race and disability.
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A new podcast, Ableism and Racism: Roots of the Same Tree, discusses the similar histories of ableism and racism and how to work toward a better future for people of color with disabilities. Listen to the podcast or read the transcript.
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The Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence created a fact sheet on Domestic and Sexual Violence and Communities of Color, which outlines some of the barriers survivors of color face in seeking services.
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LGBTQIA+ people are more likely to have a disability. They are also disproportionately impacted by domestic and sexual violence. 2 in 5 trans people identify as having a disability, according to one report, and 50% have experienced sexual violence (Transgender Rates of Violence, FORGE, 2012).
Even given the startling reality of violence against LGBTQIA+ survivors with disabilities, survivors often share how difficult it is for their intersecting identities to be respected and accommodated in healing services. In disability spaces, they may feel that their identity as an LGBTQIA+ person is ignored while in LGBTQIA+ spaces, they may feel like their disability is forgotten. People who have experienced domestic or sexual violence might find that these parts of their identity are not addressed when seeking healing services, creating additional barriers to access for them.
If you want to learn more about LGBTQIA+ survivors with disabilities, and how to serve them, check out the following resources:
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In 2019, The Movement Advancement Project and its partners, released a summary of what we know about LGBT people with disabilities.
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SAFE, a domestic violence and sexual assault service provider in Austin, conducted interviews with LGBTQIA+ survivors with disabilities about what makes them feel safe and what they want people to know about working with LGBTQIA+ survivors with disabilities.
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In 2014, a group of LGBTQIA+ and disability justice advocates participated in a podcast about the ways in which disability identity, gender identity, and sexuality intersect. Many of the lessons they provide are still relevant today. Listen to the podcast or read the transcript.
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Ask Us Anything: Creating Accessible Virtual Events Part II
June 28, 2021
2 - 4 pm ET
The Ask Us Anything series will give you the opportunity to schedule one-on-one sessions with CVS staff to ask questions or chat with us about issues facing your organization. Each Ask Us Anything session will focus on a different topic. During this Ask Us Anything session, Ashley Brompton, who coordinates our End Abuse of People with Disabilities webinars, and other virtual events team members will be available to meet with you between 2 - 4 pm ET to answer any additional questions you have on creating accessible virtual events. We recognize that there were many of you who were unable to ask you questions on this topic last time, so we are opening up a second session. Please sign up for your 15-minute session to meet one-on-one with the virtual events team to ask your questions and receive support.
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If all sessions are full, but you would like a one-on-one with the virtual events team, please email Ashley Brompton at abrompton@vera.org to join the waitlist.
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The National Center on Ending Abuse of People with Disabilities is a resource center funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women to bring together people with disabilities, policymakers, practitioners, and other community members to better serve people with disabilities and Deaf people who have experienced violence. The National Center fosters dialogue and provides guidance on addressing problems that impede access to services, developing promising practices, and works to center the needs of people with disabilities and Deaf people when developing solutions and responses to crime. For more information, reach out to us at cvs@vera.org.
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