Recommendations for increasing the accessibility and availability of battered women's services for women with disabilities

Source: CROWD

...Recommendations

We offer the following recommendations for increasing the accessibility and availability of battered women's services for women with disabilities.

1. Modify shelters for battered women so they are fully accessible, including barrier-free access to sleeping rooms and common areas, architectural features that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, visual and auditory alarm systems, available interpreters, and TTYs for telephone communication.

2. Ensure that all services offered by battered women's programs are fully accessible and integrated for women with disabilities, including hot lines, individual counseling, and support groups.

3. Provide or refer legal assistance for obtaining restraining orders and managing court systems.

4. Keep statistics on the number of women with disabilities who call crisis hot lines or use other program services.

5. Assist and encourage police in recording disability status in their crime reports, as well as encouraging adoption of a separate category for perpetrators who are caregivers.

6. Train staff on how to communicate with persons who have hearing, cognitive, speech, or psychiatric impairments. Staff should understand environmental barriers faced by women with physical and sensory disabilities when offering advice or referrals for obtaining shelter.

7. Have on hand an extensive network of community referrals and contact numbers, including volunteers or other community resources for obtaining personal assistance.

8. Offer training to disability-related service providers, including independent living centers and churches, on recognizing the symptoms of abuse and the characteristics of potential batterers. Service providers should be familiar with and able to refer to resources for battered women in their community....

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